The United States has carried out long-range missile strikes in northwest Nigeria, with video released by the U.S. Department of Defense showing Tomahawk cruise missiles being launched from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Paul Ignatius in the eastern Atlantic.
President Donald Trump announced the operation late on 25 December, stating:
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria.” He described the targets as “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
Footage posted by the U.S. appears to show BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) being fired from the destroyer’s forward launcher. The Pentagon has not confirmed how many missiles were used or provided detail on target locations, damage assessments, or casualties.
Trump added: “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
The U.S. government has not released an official briefing beyond the President’s statement and the missile launch footage. Nigerian authorities have not yet publicly commented on the strike.
The U.S. has acknowledged previous counter-ISIS operations in West Africa, supporting regional forces, but this appears to be the first confirmed use of ship-launched Tomahawk missiles in Nigeria. The administration presented the strike as a response to recent attacks attributed to ISIS-affiliated militants.
Trump said: “Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
Distraction from the Epstein files
Killing islamists that have been murdering and kidnapping Christians for years now? I couldn’t think of a better Christmas present for the Nigerian Christian population
For a pacifist non interventionist Trump sure does use a lot of tomahawks.