00:00In a dramatic move just days after Christmas,
00:27U.S. forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria,
00:34marking a major escalation in America's involvement in the country's long-running security crisis.
00:42U.S. President Donald Trump announced the operation on his Truth Social platform,
00:47saying the strikes targeted ISIS fighters who had been attacking civilians, particularly Christian communities.
00:55He described the mission as a direct response to what he called weeks of worsening violence, and warnings that went unheeded.
01:06According to the U.S. military's Africa Command, the airstrikes took place in Nigeria's Sokoto state,
01:13and were coordinated with Nigerian authorities.
01:16Nigeria's foreign ministry later confirmed that the strikes were part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States,
01:24including intelligence sharing and joint efforts to weaken militant groups operating in the region.
01:30The timing of the operation during the Christmas season gave it added symbolic weight.
01:36Attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria often increase around major religious holidays,
01:42drawing international concern and renewed debate over the nature of the violence.
01:47Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is nearly evenly divided between Muslims and Christians.
01:57While violence is sometimes framed abroad as religious persecution,
02:01Nigerian officials insist the reality is more complex.
02:06They argue that militant attacks affect both Muslims and Christians,
02:11and are driven by a mix of extremism, criminal activity, and long-standing conflicts over land and resources.
02:21Security analysts agree the roots of the crisis run deep.
02:25In many areas, clashes between armed groups, herders, and farming communities have intensified,
02:31as climate pressure, poverty, and weak local governance fuel instability.
02:37Kidnappings for ransom, including those targeting religious leaders, have also surged,
02:43often blurring the line between ideology and organized crime.
02:48The Christmas strike adds to a growing list of overseas military actions
02:53during Trump's return to the White House, despite earlier promises to end what he called endless wars.
03:01Whether the operation will significantly weaken ISIS in Nigeria,
03:05or deepen debate over America's expanding global military role, remains to be seen.
03:11For now, the airstrikes send a clear message.
03:14Even during the holidays, the fight against extremist groups continues far beyond U.S. borders.
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