The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

Abuja

Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it is cooperating with recent U.S. military strikes targeting Islamic State-affiliated militants in Sokoto State, near the border with Niger. The U.S. Defense Department released images of the missile launches, and President Trump announced the strikes on social media, citing attacks on Christians as a motive.

Public reaction in Nigeria has been divided, with some citizens expressing concern about possible reprisals and others welcoming the intervention due to ongoing violence and kidnappings. The Nigerian government welcomed the U.S. support, and some analysts noted that while the strikes were framed as protecting Christians, most victims of the insurgency in northern Nigeria have been Muslim.

Nigeria confirms cooperation with U.S. strikes on IS targets

The U.S. Defense Department offered this image of one of its missile launches aimed, it says, at terrorists with the so-called Islamic State. This unverified video purports to show one of the target locations, in the region where a small but growing segment of militants called La Kurawa is partly based. It's in the far northwest of Nigeria, Sokoto State, just across the border from Niger. The U.S. had reportedly been conducting near-daily surveillance flights over the region. U.S. President Trump announced the strikes on his social media feed, saying the U.S. hit terrorists who had viciously killed primarily innocent Christians. Nigeria's foreign ministry confirmed the strikes, adding it was cooperating with the U.S. Reaction on the streets, mixed. My fear now is that there's going to be a really, a very big revenge from these terrorists because of what has happened. For me, it's a welcome development. I mean, for quite some time now, we've had attacks, civilians, attacks on property, kidnappings all over the country, and the government doesn't seem to have the capacity to deal with it. I'm not in support of what America has done, because it will hurt our country, Nigeria. And I support Donald Trump, so that we come to Nigeria and help us. Last month, Trump foreshadowed the strikes on Nigerian terror targets with the aim of saving Christians. If we attack, it will be fast, vicious and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our cherished Christians. An array of jihadist groups have waged an insurgency in Nigeria's north since 2009. Analysts point out the victims are mostly Muslim. The government said it welcomed the Christmas Day support, though, and civilians in favor see a benefit for all from short-term U.S. intervention.

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