WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trumpsaid Thursday night that he'd launched a "powerful and deadly" U.S. strike againstIslamic Stateforces in Nigeria, afterspending weeksaccusing the West African country's government of failing to rein inthe persecution of Christians.
"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 Centuries!" the president posted on his social media site.
His post did not include information about how the strike was carried out, nor what effects it had. But the U.S. Africa Command posted on X that it had "conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists."
"Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad," its post said.
The Defense Department did not immediately answer requests for comment.
In response to Trump's previous criticisms, Nigeria's government says that people of many faiths, not just Christians, have suffered attacks at the hands of extremists groups.
Still, last month, Trump said he'd ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department has also announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved inmass killings and violence against Christiansin the West African country.
And theU.S. recently designated Nigeriaa "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act.
"I 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 in his Christmas night post.
He said that U.S. defense 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 prosper."
Nigeria's population of 220 million is split almost equally between Christians and Muslims. The country has long faced insecurity from various fronts including theBoko Haramextremist group, which seeks to establish its radical interpretation of Islamic law and has also targeted Muslims it deems not Muslim enough.
But attacks in Nigeria often have varying motives. There are religiously motivated ones targeting bothChristiansand Muslims,clashes between farmers and herdersover dwindling resources, communal rivalries,secessionist groupsand ethnic clashes.
TheU.S. security footprint has diminishedin Africa, where military partnerships have either beenscaled down or canceled. U.S. forces likely would have to be drawn from other parts of the world for any military intervention in Nigeria.
Trump has nonetheless kept up the pressure as Nigeria faced aseries of attacks on schoolsandchurches in violencethat experts and residents saytargets both Christians and Muslims.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted Thursday night on X: "The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end."
Hegseth said that U.S. military forces are "always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas" and added, "More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation" before signing off, "Merry Christmas!"
