President Donald Trump said the United States military has launched a “powerful and deadly” airstrike against Islamic State (IS) forces in Nigeria, following weeks of criticism in which he accused the government of failing to curb the persecution of Christians.
Trump made the statement in a post on his social media platform on Christmas evening, but did not provide specific details on the scope of the operation or the extent of damage caused by the strikes.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed the cooperation, stating that it involved intelligence sharing and strategic coordination carried out in a manner “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.”
In his post, Trump said the strikes targeted Islamic State militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
However, security analysts and local residents have repeatedly noted that Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, who are predominant in the south, and Muslims, who form the majority in the north.
Nigeria has continued to battle multiple security challenges, including insurgency and banditry, with violence impacting communities across religious and ethnic lines.
