Nigeria confirms U.S.-assisted airstrike on IS targets

ABUJA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian government confirmed on Friday that its armed forces, in collaboration with the United States, have conducted airstrikes on identified Islamic State-linked (IS) elements operating in the country's northwestern region.

The operation was part of Nigeria's security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, targeting terrorism and violent extremism in the western African country, Kimiebi Ebienfa, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said in a statement.

"This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by airstrikes in the northwest," Ebienfa said, without disclosing the casualties.

On Friday, the Nigerian military also confirmed the U.S.-assisted operation in a statement.

The confirmations came one day after U.S. President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he directed "a powerful and deadly strike" on IS terrorists in Nigeria. ■