Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump said the United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, saying the operation was aimed at militants responsible for attacks on civilians, particularly Christians.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social Thursday evening.
“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” he wrote.
President Trump said the Department of War carried out what he described as “numerous perfect strikes,” adding, “Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
“May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” he added.
A video posted on social media showed missiles launching from what appeared to be a U.S. warship.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said Friday local time that U.S. precision airstrikes struck “terrorist targets” in the country’s northwest. U.S. Africa Command said “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed in an operation in Sokoto state that was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities.
Last month, President Trump said he had directed the Pentagon to begin planning for possible military action in Nigeria amid claims of escalating violence against Christians. In recent weeks, the State Department announced visa restrictions on Nigerians and family members linked to mass killings and violence targeting Christians.
The United States has also designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
The strike follows months of warnings from Trump, beginning in late October, that Christianity faces what he called an “existential threat” in Nigeria. He has threatened military intervention, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to stop attacks on Christian communities.