Trending Now - US and Nigeria Launch Airstrikes, Targeting ISIS Militants in Africa

WHO:

Fox News - U.S. forces and Nigerian military

ABC News World - Islamic State group militants

Fox News - Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s shadow commander in West Africa

Fox News - Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, current ISIS caliph

WHAT:

Fox News - U.S. and Nigerian forces conducted airstrikes targeting ISIS militants in Nigeria.

ABC News World - The operation resulted in the death of over 20 Islamic State militants in Borno state.

Fox News - The killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was announced by President Trump.

Fox News - The Nigerian army described the strike as "a meticulously planned and highly complex precision air-land operation."

WHERE:

ABC News World - Borno state, Nigeria

Fox News - Metele, located in Borno State, Nigeria

WHEN:

Fox News - Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed on May 16.

Fox News - The air-land operation was carried out between midnight and 4 a.m. on a Saturday.

WHY:

Fox News - The operation aimed to disrupt ISIS operations in northeastern Nigeria following the killing of a senior leader.

HOW:

Fox News - The strike utilized human intelligence (HUMINT) to locate Abu-Bilal al-Minuki.

Fox News - The operation involved precision airstrikes that penetrated defenses held for years.

(UPDATED May 18, 2026 16:06 UTC)

U.S. and Nigerian forces recently conducted a precision airstrike in Borno state, Nigeria, targeting ISIS militants and resulting in the death of over 20 members of the Islamic State group, including their shadow commander, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, as announced by Trump. The operation, described by the Nigerian army as "a meticulously planned and highly complex precision air-land operation," took place between midnight and 4 a.m. on a Saturday and utilized human intelligence to successfully locate the target. This strike aimed to disrupt ISIS operations in northeastern Nigeria following the killing of a senior leader.