US launches air strikes towards Islamic State militants in Nigeria

[ad_1] The USA carried out a strike towards Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on the request of Nigeria's authorities, US President Donald Trump and the US army stated on Thursday, claiming the group had been concentrating on Christians within the area.

"Tonight, at my path as Commander in Chief, the USA launched a robust and lethal strike towards ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who've been concentrating on and viciously killing, primarily, harmless Christians, at ranges not seen for a few years, and even Centuries!," Trump stated in a submit on Reality Social.

The US army’s Africa Command stated the strike was carried out in Sokoto state on the request of the Nigerian authorities and killed a number of ISIS militants.

The strike comes after Trump in late October started warning that Christianity faces an "existential menace" in Nigeria and threatened to militarily intervene within the West African nation over what he says is its failure to cease violence concentrating on Christian communities.

Learn extra Trump threatens Nigeria with army motion, escalating claims of Christian persecution

Reuters reported on Monday the US had been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over giant components of Nigeria since late November.

'Extra to return' Nigeria’s international ministry stated the strikes have been carried out as a part of ongoing safety cooperation with the USA, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to focus on militant teams.

"This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes within the North West," the ministry stated in a submit on X.

A video posted by the Pentagon confirmed not less than one projectile launched from a warship. A US protection official stated the strike focused a number of militants at identified ISIS camps.

To show this content material from X (Twitter), you have to allow commercial monitoring and viewers measurement.

Settle for Handle my selections US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on X thanked the Nigerian authorities for its assist and cooperation and added: “Extra to return...”

Nigeria's authorities has stated armed teams goal each Muslims and Christians, and US claims that Christians face persecution don't signify the advanced safety scenario and ignore efforts to safeguard spiritual freedom. However it has agreed to work with the US to bolster its forces towards militant teams.

The nation's inhabitants is break up between Muslims residing primarily within the north and Christians within the south.

Police stated earlier on Thursday a suspected suicide bomber killed not less than 5 individuals and injured 35 others in Nigeria's northeast, one other area troubled by Islamist insurgents.

In a Christmas message posted on X earlier, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu referred to as for peace in his nation, "particularly between people of differing spiritual beliefs."

He additionally stated: "I stand dedicated to doing the whole lot inside my energy to enshrine spiritual freedom in Nigeria and to guard Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence."

To show this content material from X (Twitter), you have to allow commercial monitoring and viewers measurement.

Settle for Handle my selections Trump issued his assertion on the strike on Christmas Day whereas he was at his Palm Seashore, Florida, Mar-a-Lago Membership, the place he has been spending the vacation. He had no public occasions throughout the day and was final seen by the reporters touring with him on Wednesday evening.

The US army final week launched separate large-scale strikes towards dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria, after Trump vowed to hit again within the wake of a suspected ISIS assault on US personnel within the nation.