Mon Dec 29 18:40:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article rewrite of the provided text:
Summary:
On Christmas Day 2025, President Trump ordered a bombing of alleged ISIS camps in Nigeria, claiming to protect Christians from “genocide,” despite Abuja’s strong rejection. This action continues a pattern of military intervention under Trump, following bombings in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Iran, and off the Venezuelan coast. Despite campaigning as a “President of peace,” Trump’s actions mirror those of his predecessors, using military force against weaker nations. The bombing in Nigeria risks exacerbating existing tensions and empowering Islamist groups, as the primary victims of Islamist violence in northern Nigeria are Muslims. Experts argue that a coherent regional counter-terrorism strategy focused on building state capacity and local cooperation is needed, rather than episodic military strikes that can worsen the situation.
News Article:
Trump Orders Christmas Day Bombing in Nigeria, Citing Christian “Genocide”
Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump authorized a bombing raid in Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting alleged Islamic State camps in the northwestern state of Sokoto. The move, announced on December 26th, has drawn strong condemnation from Abuja, which rejects Trump’s claim that Christians in Nigeria are facing “genocide.”
This latest military action adds Nigeria to a growing list of nations targeted by the Trump administration, including Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Iran, and Venezuela. While Trump ran on a platform of ending “forever wars” and even boasted of ending the conflict between India and Pakistan, critics point to a consistent pattern of military interventionism since his return to office.
“This is just the latest example of President Trump using military might against weaker nations,” said international policy analyst Fatima Bello. “Despite his rhetoric, his actions are indistinguishable from those of his predecessors.”
The situation in Nigeria is complex, with a roughly even split between the Muslim-majority north and the Christian-majority south. Islamist militant groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP operate primarily in the north, but often target both state apparatuses and local populations regardless of faith. Experts warn that Trump’s military intervention, coupled with religious rhetoric, risks exacerbating existing tensions and empowering the very jihadist groups he claims to be fighting.
“What Africa needs is a coherent regional counter-terrorism strategy, focused on building state capacity at the local level and enhancing ground level cooperation against jihadist groups,” stated a report from the Africa Security Institute. “The U.S. should play the role of a facilitator, not an arsonist. Episodic military strikes risk worsening the ground situation, ultimately benefiting the very forces he claims to be fighting.”
The bombing has sparked renewed debate about the efficacy and impact of U.S. foreign policy in Africa and the Middle East.