Donald Trump says US carried out deadly strikes on ISIS in Nigeria

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had launched a powerful and deadly US strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria after spending weeks accusing the West African countrys government of failing to rein in the persecution of ChristiansIn a Christmas night post on his social media site Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused But the US Africa Command said on X that strikes had been conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State and had killed multiple ISIS terroristsTrump wrote Tonight at my direction as Commander in Chief the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years and even CenturiesA Defence Department official who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public said the US worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they had been approved by that countrys governmentNigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways consistent with international law mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global securityTerrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians Muslims or other communities remains an affront to Nigerias values and to international peace and security the ministry said in a statementNigerias government has previously said in response to Trumps criticisms that people of many faiths not just Christians have suffered attacks at the hands of extremist groupsTrump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try and curb Christian persecution The State Department recently announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians thereAnd the US recently designated Nigeria a country of particular concern under the International Religious Freedom ActI 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 night He said that US defence officials had executed numerous perfect strikes as only the United States is capable of doing and added that our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosperIn its X post the US Africa Command wrote that lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroadNigerias population of 220 million 22 crore is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including the Boko Haram extremist group which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enoughBut attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives There are religiously motivated ones targeting both Christians and Muslims clashes between farmers and herders over dwindling resources communal rivalries secessionist groups and ethnic clashesThe US security footprint has diminished in Africa where military partnerships have either been scaled down or cancelled US forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any military intervention in NigeriaTrump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced a series of attacks on schools and churches in violence that experts and residents say targets both Christians and MuslimsDefence Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on Thursday night on X The President was clear last month the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must endHegseth said that US military forces are always ready so ISIS found out tonight on Christmas and added More to comeGrateful for Nigerian government support amp cooperation before signing off Merry ChristmasThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever