President Donald Trump said Thursday he’d ordered a deadly strike on Islamic State terrorists in Nigeria, who he has accused of persecuting Christians in the country. In a post on social media, Trump said he’d directed a “powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria,” who he said had been killing innocent Christians. A US official told CNN the strikes included Tomahawk missiles fired from a Navy vessel that struck two ISIS camps. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementIn the fall, Trump accused Nigeria of religious freedom violations claiming that “Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria” and designating the nation as a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementTrump has cast himself a peacemaker, and entered office vowing to limit US military intervention abroad.

Source: CNN December 26, 2025 02:13 UTC