Nigeria confirms ‘approved’ US strike on IS militants
Nigerian authorities have confirmed a United States military strike on Islamic State militants in the country’s northwest on Thursday, believed to have killed multiple insurgents.
Nigerian military officials said in a statement to local media on Friday morning that the strike was conducted in coordination and with the approval of Nigerian authorities.
“The strike followed credible intelligence and careful operational planning aimed at degrading the capability of the targeted elements while minimising collateral damage.
“The operation underscores the resolve of the Federal Government of Nigeria, working with strategic partners, to confront transnational terrorism and prevent foreign fighters from establishing or expanding footholds within Nigeria’s borders,” Local media The Guardian quoted the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major-General Samaila Uba.
The U.S. military’s Africa Command had said the strike was carried out in Sokoto state in coordination with Nigerian authorities and killed multiple ISIS militants.
This follows Trump’s post on Truth Social that said: “Tonight, 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!”
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the strike was a "joint operation" targeting "terrorists", and it "has nothing to do with a particular religion".
Without naming ISIS specifically, Tuggar said the operation had been planned "for quite some time" and had used intelligence information provided by the Nigerian side, reports Reuters. He did not rule out further strikes, adding that this depended on "decisions to be taken by the leadership of the two countries".
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
