"The United States airstrikes that targeted Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria's on Thursday marked a major escalation in an offensive that Nigeria's overstretched military has struggled with for years. U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that the "powerful and deadly" strikes in Sokoto state were carried out against Islamic State militants "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. Nigeria, which is battling multiple armed groups, said the U.S. strikes were part of an exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination between the two countries. The Associated Press could not confirm the extent of the strikes' impact."
U.S. airstrikes struck Islamic State militants in Sokoto state, characterized as powerful and deadly and described as targeting militants who were killing primarily Christians. The operations marked a major escalation in a campaign that Nigeria's overstretched military has struggled to contain. The strikes formed part of intelligence sharing and strategic coordination with Nigerian forces. Independent confirmation of the strikes' impact was not available. Armed groups in Nigeria include Islamic State West Africa Province in the northeast and the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP), known locally as Lakurawa, which has grown more lethal in border states like Sokoto and Kebbi.
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