US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria

The US has carried out strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in northwestern Nigeria, where the militants have been trying to gain a foothold.

According to the US military, the strikes targeted the group's camps in Sokoto state near the border with Niger. The number of casualties is unclear, but U.S. and Nigerian officials say the militants were killed.

US President Donald Trump said that The Christmas strikes were “deadly” and the group was branded “terrorist scum”, saying they “targeted and brutally killed primarily innocent Christians”.

Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a “joint operation” and had “nothing to do with any particular religion.”

Tuggar said the strikes had been planned “for quite some time” using intelligence provided by Nigeria. He also did not rule out further strikes.

Referring to the timing of the strikes, which occurred late on Thursday, he said they had “nothing to do with Christmas”.

The US military said the “initial assessment” suggests “multiple” casualties in Sokoto state.

A local official in Tangaza area of ​​Sokoto state, Isa Salihu Bashir, told the BBC that the strikes “affected several Lakurawa terror camps.” He said many militants were killed but the death toll was unknown.

The BBC was unable to independently confirm the casualty figures.

Bashir added that border patrols on the Niger side reported seeing Lakurawa fighters leaving target areas.

The Nigerian government has long fought a variety of jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and groups linked to IS, but mainly in the northeast. But in recent years, a small group known as the Lakurawa has attempted to establish a base in northwestern Sokoto state.

Nigerian authorities say the group has links to jihadist networks in Mali and Niger. They add that its members settled in border communities, recruited young people and imposed tight controls.

Tangaza consists of remote villages whose residents are mostly moderately practicing Muslims.

In a statement late Friday, Nigeria's information ministry said the “precision strike operations” were carried out with the “explicit approval” of President Bola Tinubu and with the “full participation of the Nigerian Armed Forces.”

It also said that during the operation, ammunition debris fell in two communities – the village of Jabo, also in Sokoto state, and Offa in Kwara state, about 600 km (370 miles) to the south. No civilian casualties were reported at any location.

An eyewitness from Jabo, Umar Jabo, told the BBC: “What looked like an airplane burst into flames and crashed… in the fields.”

He said there were no problems with IS in the area: “We live peacefully and there is no conflict between us and the Christians.”

The Trump administration has previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks and has alleged that “genocide” is being committed.

Trump called Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a designation used by the U.S. State Department that includes sanctions against countries “engaged in serious violations of religious freedom.”

American military he was ordered to prepare for the invasion of Nigeria in November..

In a social media post late on Christmas Day confirming the strikes, Trump said he would “not allow radical Islamic terrorism to flourish.”

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday he was “grateful for the Nigerian government's support and cooperation.” The Pentagon later released a short video showing the missile being launched from the ship.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with a population of about 220 million, roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.

Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and IS-linked offshoots have wreaked havoc in northeastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people.

Most of the victims were Muslim, according to Acled, a group that analyzes political violence around the world.

The strikes were the second major US intervention against IS in recent weeks.

Last week US says it has launched a “massive strike” against ISIS in Syria.

US Central Command (Centcom) said fighter jets, attack helicopters and artillery hit more than 70 targets. Airplanes from Jordan were also involved.

The strikes were carried out in response to the killing of three Americans – two soldiers and a civilian interpreter – in an ambush.