In a separate statement, U.S. Africa Command said multiple ISIS fighters were killed during the operation, which it said was conducted at Nigeria’s request. “AFRICOM conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists. Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” the command said.
AFRICOM commander Gen. Dagvin Anderson said the US military was working with Nigerian and regional partners to expand “counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to on-going violence and threats against innocent lives.” The strikes followed earlier warnings from Trump, who in November threatened military action if violence against Christians in Nigeria did not stop.
“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,” Trump wrote on Thursday. “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
He added: “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.” Nigerian authorities said the country remained engaged in security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, in response to the strikes.
Nigeria said all counter-terrorism actions were guided by the protection of civilians, national unity, and the rights of all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity. The foreign minister said: “Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.”
Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” in November over religious violence, a move that requires consultations with the Nigerian government and Congress within 90 days. The Trump administration also began daily surveillance flights over the country, according to Reuters.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris said last month that more than 13,500 militants had been killed, 17,000 suspects arrested and over 11,200 hostages rescued, while welcoming US support. Republican lawmakers praised the strikes, with Representative Riley Moore calling them “just the first step to ending the slaughter of Christians and the security crisis affecting all Nigerians.”
Representative Andy Harris also welcomed the action, saying: “This is strong and decisive leadership by our President standing up for the persecuted Christians and taking on ISIS. God bless our military. Merry Christmas.” Separately on Thursday, Turkish authorities said they had arrested more than 110 suspected ISIS members allegedly planning attacks over the Christmas and New Year period.
Source: The Hill.
