United States conducts airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria

(Patria) - The United States launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, Donald Trump announced early this morning, Sky News reported.

The U.S. Africa Command announced that the strikes were carried out "in coordination with Nigerian authorities" in Sokoto state, while a U.S. official told Reuters that multiple targets were killed.

Speaking about the attack on his social media network Truth Social, Trump said: "Tonight, at my order as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria, who are targeting and brutally killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen in many years, and even centuries! I previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughter of Christians, hell would break loose, and tonight it did. The Department of War carried out numerous perfect strikes, the kind only the United States is capable of. Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to advance."

On social network X, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: "The President was clear
last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must stop," he said.
"The @DeptofWar (Department of War) is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight - on Christmas. More to follow..."

He added that he was grateful to the Nigerian government for its "support and cooperation".

Last month, Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to begin planning potential military action in Nigeria following claims of persecution of Christians.

His administration also designated Nigeria as a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act and said it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country.

The Nigerian government had previously stated that Trump's claims that Christians there face
persecution were a misrepresentation of the country's complex security challenges."