ISTANBUL

The US conducted "powerful and deadly” strikes against ISIS (Daesh) targets in northwest Nigeria, President Donald Trump announced Thursday on his Truth Social platform.

"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!" he said.

“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.

"The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing," he added.

“May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

US Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a post on the US social media company X’s platform that it launched the strikes "at the request of Nigerian authorities” in Sokoto 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,” it added.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also commented on the strikes in a post on X.

“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!” he said.