“`html
The United States has conducted military strikes against militants affiliated with the Islamic State group (IS) in northwestern Nigeria, where the group has been attempting to establish a presence.
The US military reported that camps operated by the group in Sokoto state, near the border with Niger, were targeted. While casualty figures remain unclear, both US and Nigerian officials have confirmed militant fatalities.
Former US President Donald Trump characterized the Christmas Day strikes as “deadly,” referring to the group as “terrorist scum” and alleging they had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the operation was a “joint operation” and emphasized that it had “nothing to do with a particular religion.”
Mr. Tuggar stated that the strikes had been planned “for quite some time” utilizing intelligence provided by Nigeria, and he did not rule out the possibility of future strikes.
Addressing the timing of the strikes, which occurred late on Thursday, he asserted that they were unrelated to Christmas.
The US military indicated in an “initial assessment” that there were “multiple” fatalities in Sokoto state.
Isa Salihu Bashir, a local official in the Tangaza area of Sokoto state, informed the BBC that the strikes had “hit some Lakurawa terrorist camps.” He reported that many fighters were killed, but the exact death toll remains uncertain.
The BBC has not been able to independently verify casualty numbers.
Mr. Bashir added that border patrols on the Niger side reported sightings of Lakurawa fighters fleeing the targeted areas.
The Nigerian government has been engaged in a protracted battle against various jihadist groups, including Boko Haram and IS-linked factions, primarily in the northeast. However, in recent years, a smaller group known locally as Lakurawa has been attempting to establish a base in northwestern Sokoto state.
Nigerian authorities claim that the group has connections to jihadist networks in Mali and Niger, and that its members have settled in border communities, recruited young people, and imposed strict controls.
Tangaza is composed of remote villages whose residents are predominantly moderate Muslims.
In a statement released late on Friday, Nigeria’s information ministry stated that “precision strike operations” had been carried out with the “explicit approval” of President Bola Tinubu and with “the full involvement of the armed forces of Nigeria.”
The ministry also reported that debris from munitions fell in two communities during the operation – the village of Jabo in Sokoto state, and Offa in Kwara state, approximately 600km (370 miles) to the south. No civilian casualties were reported in either location.
Umar Jabo, an eyewitness in Jabo, told the BBC: “Something that looked like a plane flashed and crashed… in fields.”
He stated that there were no issues with IS in the area: “We live peacefully, and there is no conflict between us and Christians.”
The Trump administration had previously accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians from jihadist attacks and had alleged that a “genocide” was being perpetrated.
Mr. Trump had designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern,” a designation used by the US State Department that allows for sanctions against countries “engaged in severe violations of religious freedom.”
The US military was ordered to prepare to intervene in Nigeria in November.
In a social media post late on Christmas Day confirming the strikes, Mr. Trump stated that he would “not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday that he was “grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.” The Pentagon later posted a short video that appeared to show a missile being launched from a ship.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, with approximately 220 million people, divided roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims.
Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and IS-linked offshoots have caused widespread devastation in northeastern Nigeria for over a decade, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people.
According to Acled, a group that analyzes political violence globally, the majority of victims have been Muslims.
The strikes mark the second major US intervention targeting IS in recent weeks.
Last week, the US said it had carried out a “massive strike” against IS in Syria.
US Central Command (Centcom) reported that fighter jets, attack helicopters, and artillery had struck more than 70 targets, with aircraft from Jordan also participating.
Those strikes were launched in retaliation for the killing of three Americans – two soldiers and a civilian interpreter – in an ambush.
Up to nine inches (23cm) of snow could fall across the New York region during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
Even modest additional rainfall could trigger floods and mudslides in saturated areas, forecasters warn.
Test your memory of 2025 in the second part of our quiz. What happened from April to June?
Rep Joyce Beatty, who sits on the centre’s board, argues the name change is illegal because it requires approval from Congress.
The prize marks the second-largest US lottery jackpot ever won.
“`