The United States has launched a “powerful and deadly” military operation against ISIS militants in northwestern Nigeria, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday.
Trump described ISIS as a group of “terrorist scum,” accusing it of brutally targeting and killing civilians, primarily innocent Christians. He said the U.S. military carried out multiple strikes against the group.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed that the operation was conducted in coordination with Nigerian forces in Sokoto State, as part of a joint counterterrorism effort.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the strikes were part of a joint operation aimed strictly at terrorist groups, stressing that the mission “has nothing to do with any particular religion.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that under his leadership, the United States will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to flourish.
In November, Trump had instructed the U.S. military to prepare for operations in Nigeria targeting Islamist militant groups, amid rising violence in the region.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation of the Nigerian government, highlighting continued bilateral collaboration in counterterrorism efforts.
