"US conducted a series of strikes against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria at the order of President Donald Trump on Thursday, amid accusations of the group's mass killings of Christians in the country. Footage released on Thursday shows a missile being launched. The location of the footage could not be independently verified. "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," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the strikes. "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 added. The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes early Friday, stating they were part of 'structured security cooperation' in countering "persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism." The Nigerian government said the groups target Nigerians of all faiths, stressing that the strikes are part of wider efforts to stabilise the region after the president declared a national security emergency in November. The strikes were reportedly carried out by the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) 'in coordination with Nigerian authorities'. In November, Trump threatened to completely withdraw US aid and to directly intervene in the alleged 'mass slaughter' and persecution of the Christian population in Nigeria, which Abuja has denied. More than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in the first half of 2025, mostly in the northern 'Middle Belt', according to the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law and other international watchdogs. According to an Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) report, over 413 million Christians live in countries without religious freedom, and 280 million face direct persecution."