WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said the United States launched a 'powerful and deadly' strike against forces of the Islamic State group in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the targeting of Christians.
In a Christmas evening post on his social media site Thursday, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes in the northwestern state of Sokoto. A Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they’d been approved by Abuja.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the cooperation included intelligence exchange and strategic coordination consistent with international law. The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact.
Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including affiliates of the Islamic State and groups like Lakurawa which have been increasingly lethal in the region by targeting remote communities. Security analysts suggest the US may have focused on the Lakurawa group, which is known to control territories in Sokoto state.
Trump emphasized that the airstrikes were launched against militants that have been attacking primarily innocent Christians. However, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that terrorist violence impacts both Christian and Muslim communities. Previous statements from the Nigerian government indicated that many faiths have suffered at the hands of extremist groups.
Ahead of these strikes, Trump had ordered the Pentagon to develop plans for military action in Nigeria to address what he labeled Christian persecution. The State Department has also indicated that it would impose visa restrictions on Nigerians involved in attacks against Christians.
Trump stated that the U.S. will not tolerate Radical Islamic Terrorism. In conclusion, the complex security situation in Nigeria involves diverse extremist motivations that could threaten both Christian and Muslim populations, further complicating an already delicate situation.
In a Christmas evening post on his social media site Thursday, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes in the northwestern state of Sokoto. A Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they’d been approved by Abuja.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the cooperation included intelligence exchange and strategic coordination consistent with international law. The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact.
Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including affiliates of the Islamic State and groups like Lakurawa which have been increasingly lethal in the region by targeting remote communities. Security analysts suggest the US may have focused on the Lakurawa group, which is known to control territories in Sokoto state.
Trump emphasized that the airstrikes were launched against militants that have been attacking primarily innocent Christians. However, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pointed out that terrorist violence impacts both Christian and Muslim communities. Previous statements from the Nigerian government indicated that many faiths have suffered at the hands of extremist groups.
Ahead of these strikes, Trump had ordered the Pentagon to develop plans for military action in Nigeria to address what he labeled Christian persecution. The State Department has also indicated that it would impose visa restrictions on Nigerians involved in attacks against Christians.
Trump stated that the U.S. will not tolerate Radical Islamic Terrorism. In conclusion, the complex security situation in Nigeria involves diverse extremist motivations that could threaten both Christian and Muslim populations, further complicating an already delicate situation.
