The US has launched airstrikes in opposition to Islamic State militant “scum” in Nigeria, Donald Trump has mentioned.
US Africa Command mentioned the strikes had been carried out “in coordination with Nigerian authorities” in Sokoto State, whereas a US official informed the Reuters information company the strikes killed a number of targets.
Saying the navy intervention on his social media platform Fact Social, Mr Trump mentioned: “Tonight, at my path as Commander in Chief, america launched a strong and lethal strike in opposition to ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who’ve been focusing on and viciously killing, primarily, harmless Christians, at ranges not seen for a few years, and even Centuries!
“I’ve beforehand warned these Terrorists that if they didn’t cease the slaughtering of Christians, there can be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Division of Battle executed quite a few excellent strikes, as solely america is able to doing.
“Underneath my management, our Nation won’t permit Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
Footage shared by the US Division of Battle seems to indicate an airstrike being launched. Pic: Division of Battle
Pic: Division of Battle
On X, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned: “The President was clear final month: the killing of harmless Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) should finish.
“The @DeptofWar [Department of War] is all the time prepared, so ISIS came upon tonight – on Christmas. Extra to come back…”
He added he was grateful to the Nigerian authorities for its “assist and cooperation”.
Following the updates from US officers, Nigeria’s international ministry confirmed that precision air strikes by the US had hit “terrorist targets” within the nation’s north west.
It mentioned the nation was cooperating with the US in “addressing the persistent risk of terrorism and violent extremism”.
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Mr Trump said last month that he’d ordered the Pentagon to start planning for potential navy motion in Nigeria following stories of Christian persecution.
His authorities additionally designated Nigeria a “nation of specific concern” beneath the Worldwide Non secular Freedom Act and mentioned it could limit visas for Nigerians and their relations concerned in mass killings and violence in opposition to Christians within the West African nation.
Nigeria’s inhabitants is cut up between Muslims dwelling primarily within the north and Christians within the south.
The Nigerian authorities beforehand mentioned Mr Trump’s claims that Christians face persecution there’s a misrepresentation of the nation’s complicated safety challenges, and that armed teams additionally goal Muslims – but it surely has agreed to work with the US to bolster its forces in opposition to terrorist exercise.
After the US strikes, Nigeria’s international ministry mentioned: “Nigeria reiterates that every one counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of defending civilian lives, safeguarding nationwide unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all residents, irrespective of religion or ethnicity. Terrorist violence in any type whether or not directed at Christians, Muslims, or different communities stays an affront to Nigeria’s values and to worldwide peace and safety.”
Final month, one of many nation’s largest mass abduction noticed greater than 300 college students taken from a catholic faculty in northern Nigeria. They had been all freed by 22 December.
