United States President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed he had ordered a military strike against Islamic State terrorists operating in Nigeria, accusing the group of targeting Christians in the country.
In a statement posted on Truth Social shortly before midnight on Thursday, Trump said the United States carried out the operation under his authority as Commander in Chief. He said the strike targeted ISIS-affiliated fighters in northwest Nigeria.
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The full statement reads: “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!
“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. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.
“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.”
In recent months, Trump has repeatedly spoken about attacks on Christians in Nigeria. He has threatened military intervention and said he asked the US department of war to “prepare for possible action,” warning that the United States would enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if necessary.
Trump also declared Nigeria a country of particular concern, citing religious persecution in Africa’s most populous nation.