The US military has launched a strike against militants of the Islamic State terrorist group in Nigeria.
US President Donald Trump announced this on December 25, reports a correspondent for the online publication Belnovosti.
The head of state added: the operation was carried out on his personal orders.
He noted that the target of the strike was militants who were “brutally killing innocent Christians on a scale unseen for many years and even centuries.”
Trump said he had previously warned terrorists of the consequences of their actions and now “they have paid dearly.”
The president, as Belta notes, added that he would not allow radicals to flourish and threatened new strikes if attacks on Christians continued.
Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for their cooperation and support on social media.
He noted that the operation would not be the last, but did not provide details about possible further actions.
US Africa Command confirmed the attack was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and reported the killing of several ISIS militants.
Back in early November, Donald Trump announced his intention to prepare forceful measures against terrorists in Nigeria to protect Christian communities.
He has repeatedly emphasized that Christians in this country are under threat of extermination.
Nigerian authorities have denied such accusations, stating that the country is not a country of religious intolerance and is making efforts to protect the religious freedom of all citizens.
Against the backdrop of the military operation, diplomatic contacts between Washington and Abuja continue.
In December, US Ambassador to Nigeria Richard Mills met with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation.
US Congressman Riley Moore said the two sides are close to concluding a strategic security partnership agreement aimed at combating terrorism in the region.
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