The United States has conducted air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in north-west Nigeria at the request of the Nigerian government, US President Donald Trump and the US military have confirmed.
According to a statement by the United States Central Command (US CENTCOM), the operation involved the deployment of more than 100 precision-guided munitions against identified IS infrastructure and weapons facilities in the region.
In a social media post on Thursday, President Trump said the strikes were ordered in response to attacks by IS militants, whom he accused of targeting Christian communities.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in north-west Nigeria, who have been viciously killing innocent Christians,” Mr Trump said.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) also confirmed that the strike was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple IS fighters.
The operation follows repeated warnings by Mr Trump since late October, in which he claimed that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and threatened possible US military intervention over what he described as the Nigerian government’s failure to halt violence against Christian communities.
In his Christmas Day statement, the US president reiterated his position, saying he had previously warned that “there would be hell to pay” if attacks on Christians continued.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” he added, while commending the US military for the operation.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported earlier this week that the United States has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November, signalling increased security cooperation between both countries.
Nigeria’s government has consistently maintained that armed groups operating within its borders target both Muslims and Christians, stressing that the security challenges facing the country are complex and not rooted solely in religious persecution. Officials have also noted that US claims of systematic persecution of Christians overlook Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom.
Nevertheless, Nigerian authorities have confirmed their willingness to work closely with the United States to strengthen counterterrorism operations against militant groups.
Nigeria’s population is almost evenly divided between Muslims, who predominantly live in the north, and Christians, who are largely based in the south.
President Trump issued his statement on Christmas Day from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, where he has been spending the holiday. He held no public engagements on the day and was last seen by reporters travelling with him on Wednesday night.
