United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has expressed appreciation to the Nigerian government for its cooperation during recent coordinated airstrikes on Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria. The operations targeted ISIS linked terrorist camps as part of ongoing security collaboration between both countries.
In a message shared on social media, Hegseth said he was grateful for the support and cooperation of the Nigerian authorities. He recalled that President Donald Trump had earlier warned that the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must end, adding that the US Department of War was always ready to act against ISIS.
The Federal Government had already confirmed that Nigeria remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this partnership includes intelligence sharing and coordinated actions against terrorist targets, carried out with full respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law.
Nigerian officials said the airstrikes formed part of wider efforts to weaken terrorist networks and prevent further attacks on civilians in the North West. The government stressed that all counterterrorism operations are aimed at protecting lives, safeguarding national unity and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
US Africa Command also confirmed that the strikes were conducted at Nigeria’s request and that multiple ISIS fighters were killed. The public show of gratitude from Washington comes as debates continue within Nigeria over the benefits and risks of foreign military involvement in the country’s security operations.
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