US strikes IS-linked militants in north-west Nigeria
The United States has carried out air strikes on militant positions linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria, marking a rare American military operation in this part of the country. According to the US military, the strikes targeted camps in Sokoto state, close to the border with Niger, an area where IS-affiliated fighters have recently attempted to establish a presence. While exact casualty figures have not been released, both US and Nigerian officials confirmed that several militants were killed. US President Donald Trump described the Christmas Day operation as “deadly” and strongly condemned the militants, accusing them of carrying out violent attacks against civilians. Nigerian authorities, however, rejected any religious framing of the intervention. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, told the BBC that the operation was jointly conducted by Nigeria and the United States and stressed […]