Former US President Donald Trump has announced that he directed a significant military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Nigeria on Christmas Day. The strike, which he described as 'powerful and deadly', targeted what he called 'terrorist scum' in the northwest of the African nation.
Christmas Day Announcement on Truth Social
Trump made the declaration in a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday evening. He stated the action was taken under his authority as Commander in Chief and was a direct response to ISIS attacks targeting innocent Christian communities.
'Tonight, at my direction, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria,' Trump wrote. He accused the militants of viciously killing Christians 'at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries.'
A Warning Delivered and Executed
The former president framed the operation as a fulfilment of a prior warning. He claimed to have previously told the terrorists that 'if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay.' Trump's message was unequivocal: 'and tonight, there was.'
He praised the execution of the mission, stating, 'The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.' Trump added that under his leadership, the country would not allow 'Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.'
Continued Threats and a Festive Sign-Off
Trump concluded his announcement with a stark warning and a seasonal message. He signalled that further retaliation would follow if the violence against Christians persisted.
'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,' he wrote.
Specific details regarding casualties from the strike, including the number of militants killed or injured, were not immediately clear. The Daily Mail has contacted the Pentagon for official comment and confirmation, marking this as a developing story.
