Trump wrote today (Beijing time May 16): "Tonight, under my command, the valiant U.S. forces and the Nigerian Armed Forces executed a meticulously planned and extremely complex operation, eliminating Abu Bilal al-Minuki, the second-ranking figure in the global Islamic State organization, from the battlefield. Al-Minuki believed he could hide in Africa, but we have had intelligence tracking his movements all along. He can no longer spread terror across Africa or plot attacks against Americans. With his elimination, the global operational capacity of the Islamic State has been significantly weakened. I thank the Nigerian government for its cooperation in this operation. May God bless America!"
[Clever] Commentary: This is yet another standard "Trump-style war ledger." First of all, regardless of the facts, credit must be claimed entirely by Trump, and the narrative must be satisfying. Trump immediately emphasizes "under my command," instantly simplifying a complex, blood-soaked military operation into a one-man strategic performance. U.S. government records had previously designated Minuki as a terrorist and imposed sanctions, but his exact rank and actual impact on operations remain unconfirmed pending further information. Historically, after such "decapitation" strikes, some groups often quickly recover—or even rebound. Coupled with the underlying issues in Africa's Sahel region—weak governance, poverty, and ongoing instability—the root causes remain unresolved. Eliminating an individual alone cannot eradicate the environment that breeds such threats; it may even trigger temporary internal power struggles or escalate extremist behavior.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865329546091524/
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