Trump says US launched ‘powerful
On Christmas Day, the U.S. carried out a military strike in northwest Nigeria targeting militants linked to the Islamic State group.
President Donald Trump said the action responded to ISIS-affiliated forces “violently targeting innocent Christians in Nigeria,”
warning that the U.S. would not allow terrorism to grow.
He described the militants as “ISIS Terrorist Scum” and called the strikes “powerful and deadly.”
The operation drew renewed attention to ongoing violence in Nigeria, where reports say
“thousands of Christians have been killed and numerous churches destroyed” in recent years.
Exact casualty numbers from the strike remain unclear.
Nigerian officials confirmed it was a joint operation.
Brigadier General Samaila Mohammed Uba said it was based on “credible intelligence” aimed at weakening terrorist groups
while limiting civilian harm. Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar stressed
the strike was “not religiously motivated,” but a security response to terrorism.
