Signal US withdrew forces from Nigeria after joint operation killed ISIS global deputy leader

Summary

AFRICOM Commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson said the US had withdrawn most of the forces it deployed for a May 2026 joint US-Nigerian operation in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin region, which killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described by AFRICOM as the director of global operations for ISIS. Anderson made the remarks at a three-day conference of African defense chiefs in Luanda, Angola, attended by military leaders from 35 African countries. He described the operation as a model for future security cooperation in Africa, under which the US provides specialized intelligence-sharing support while Nigeria continues to lead ground operations against remaining ISIS fighters. Notably, the 'global deputy leader' characterization is contested: a February 2026 United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team report had instead identified Minuki as head of the Islamic State's regional Al Furqan office, not as the group's overall second-in-command. AFRICOM said Minuki had a long history of planning attacks, directing hostage-taking, and overseeing weapons and drone development, and that removing him weakened ISIS leadership and communications networks beyond West Africa.