WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the US had launched a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in the persecution of Christians.

In a post on December 25 on his social media site, Trump did not provide details or mention the extent of the damage caused by the strikes.

A US Defense Department official, who insisted on anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the US worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that the Nigerian government had approved them.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the cooperation involved the exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination in ways “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.”

Trump said the airstrikes were launched against ISIS militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”

Residents and security analysts have said Nigeria’s security crisis affects both Christians, predominant in the south, and Muslims, who are the majority in the north.

“Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Nigeria is battling........

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