U.S. strike hits ISIS targets in Nigeria : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg" class="img" alt="President Trump listens during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC." fetchpriority="high"/> President Trump listens throughout a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Protection Medal within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures North America conceal caption

toggle caption

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures North America President Trump introduced late Thursday that the U.S. had launched a "lethal strike" towards Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria, who he mentioned had been killing Christians within the space.

In a Christmas night time publish on Fact Social, Trump mentioned the strike was directed at "ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who've been focusing on and viciously killing, primarily, harmless Christians, at ranges not see for a few years, and even Centuries!"

"I've beforehand warned these Terrorists that if they didn't cease the slaughtering of Christians, there could be hell to pay, and tonight, there was," he mentioned, including that U.S. forces had "executed quite a few excellent strikes."

"Beneath my management, our Nation is not going to permit Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper," the president wrote. "Could God Bless our Army, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, together with the useless Terrorists, of which there will likely be many extra if their slaughter of Christians continues."

The announcement follows a number of U.S. strikes final week towards ISIS targets in Syria in response to what the U.S. Central Command described as a focused killing of two U.S. troopers and an interpreter by an ISIS gunman there.

Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to cease the persecution of Christians within the nation and final month he mentioned he ordered the Pentagon to attract up plans for doable navy motion towards Nigeria and warned the U.S. would droop help to the West African nation.

Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The Nigerian authorities says assaults by militant teams are much less about faith than the place these teams are positioned.

Final month, Nigeria mentioned it welcomed U.S. assist in preventing insurgents however that its territorial integrity should be revered, in line with Reuters.

U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) mentioned in an announcement it had "carried out a strike on the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State killing a number of ISIS terrorists."

In a publish on X, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned: "The @DeptofWaris at all times prepared, so ISIS came upon tonight — on Christmas. Extra to come back… Grateful for Nigerian authorities help & cooperation."