{"id":45910,"date":"2025-12-26T03:45:50","date_gmt":"2025-12-26T03:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=45910"},"modified":"2025-12-26T03:45:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T03:45:50","slug":"nigeria-isis-islamic-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2025\/12\/26\/nigeria-isis-islamic-state\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. strike hits ISIS targets in Nigeria : NPR"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"storytext\">\n<div id=\"resg-s1-103705\" class=\"bucketwrap image large\">\n<div class=\"imagewrap has-source-dimensions\" data-crop-type=\"\" style=\"&#10;        --source-width: 6000;&#10;        --source-height: 4000;&#10;    \">\n        <picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/webp\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/webp\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/400\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 400w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 800w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/900\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 900w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1200\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1200w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1600\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1600w,&#10;https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/1800\/quality\/85\/format\/jpeg\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg 1800w\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1025px) 650px, calc(100vw - 30px)\" class=\"img\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"\/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/US-strike-hits-ISIS-targets-in-Nigeria-NPR.jpg?w=640&#038;ssl=1\" data-template=\"https:\/\/npr.brightspotcdn.com\/dims3\/default\/strip\/false\/crop\/6000x4000+0+0\/resize\/{width}\/quality\/{quality}\/format\/{format}\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8b%2Ff0%2Fb9716e6349408d39049bf6a20c37%2Fgettyimages-2252098056.jpg\" class=\"img\" alt=\"President Trump listens during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrap\">\n<div class=\"caption\" aria-label=\"Image caption\">\n<p>\n                President Trump listens during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of the White House on December 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.<br \/>\n                <b class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>                    Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images North America<\/p>\n<p>                <\/b><br \/>\n                <b class=\"hide-caption\"><b>hide caption<\/b><\/b>\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <b class=\"toggle-caption\"><b>toggle caption<\/b><\/b>\n    <\/div>\n<p>    <span class=\"credit\" aria-label=\"Image credit\"><\/p>\n<p>        Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images North America<\/p>\n<p>    <\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>President Trump announced late Thursday that the U.S. had launched a &#8220;deadly strike&#8221; against Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria, who he said had been killing Christians in the area.<\/p>\n<p>In a Christmas night <u>post<\/u> on Truth Social, Trump said the strike was directed at &#8220;ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not see for many years, and even Centuries!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,&#8221; he said, adding that U.S. forces had &#8220;executed numerous perfect strikes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-backstage-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap backstage\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,&#8221; the president wrote. &#8220;May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The announcement follows <u>multiple U.S. strikes<\/u> last week against ISIS targets in Syria in response to what the U.S. Central Command <u>described as a targeted killing<\/u> of two U.S. soldiers and an interpreter by an ISIS gunman there.<\/p>\n<p>Trump has accused Nigeria of failing to stop the persecution of Christians in the country and last month he said <u>he ordered<\/u> the Pentagon to draw up plans for possible military action against Nigeria and warned the U.S. would suspend aid to the West African country.<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. The Nigerian government says attacks by militant groups are less about religion than where those groups are located.<\/p>\n<p>Last month, Nigeria said it welcomed U.S. help in fighting insurgents but that its territorial integrity must be respected, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement it had &#8220;conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists.&#8221;<\/p>\n<aside id=\"ad-secondary-wrap\" class=\"ad-wrap secondary\" aria-label=\"advertisement\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>In a post on X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said: &#8220;The @DeptofWar<br \/>is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight \u2014 on Christmas. More to come\u2026 Grateful for Nigerian government support &amp; cooperation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>So far, Nigerian officials have not formally commented on the reported strikes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#U.S #strike #hits #ISIS #targets #Nigeria #NPR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Trump listens during a ceremony for the presentation of the Mexican Border Defense Medal in the Oval Office of&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45910"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45912,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45910\/revisions\/45912"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}