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The US has struck alleged Islamic State militants in north-western Nigeria over attacks against the African nation’s Christians, Donald Trump announced in a post on social media on Thursday.
“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,” the president wrote.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
The US worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes, which were approved by its government, a US defence official said in a statement.
Trump in November designated the west African state a “country of particular concern”, a status that can precede the imposition of sanctions against a specific nation.
He said at the time that the US was willing to go into Nigeria “guns-a-blazing”, as he accused Abuja of failing to take sufficient action to stop the killing of Christians by extremist groups.
Weeks later, gunmen in Nigeria abducted hundreds schoolchildren from a Catholic school.
Trump has repeatedly expressed concern about the targeting of Christians in the country, warning that the religion faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria.
Nigeria has long grappled with the threat of terror groups, criminal gangs and banditry targeting both Muslims and Christians.
In a post on social media, defence secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that there could be further military action against Islamic State affiliates in Nigeria.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come . . . ,” he wrote.
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