Washington: US President Donald Trump said that the United States carried out a “strong and lethal” military operation against the Islamic State (ISIS) in northwest Nigeria, targeting terrorists allegedly involved in the killing of Christians.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed the strike was conducted under his direct command as Commander-in-Chief. He alleged that ISIS-linked militants in the region had been carrying out large-scale attacks against Christians.
“The United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria tonight at my command,” Trump wrote. He accused the group of killing “innocent Christians at a rate not seen in many years” and warned that continued violence would be met with further action.
Trump praised the US military, stating that only the United States could execute such “precise and flawless” operations, and reiterated his stance that radical Islamic terrorism would not be allowed to flourish under his leadership.
According to the US National Counterterrorism Center, Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS in 2015, forming ISIS–West Africa (ISIS-WA), which has frequently targeted Christians, civilians, government institutions, and security forces in the region.
Separately, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that on December 19, US and Jordanian forces conducted extensive airstrikes against ISIS positions in Syria, hitting more than 70 targets using over 100 precision-guided munitions. CENTCOM described the operation as part of its “peace through strength” strategy.
The developments come amid continued concerns over ISIS activity in parts of Africa and the Middle East, including recent attacks on military convoys in central Syria.
