Trump says US strikes in Nigeria curb Christian killings

President Donald Trump claimed on Friday that recent U.S. military operations in Nigeria have largely halted the killing of Christians by terrorist groups in the country. Speaking at an event in Washington, Trump asserted that American strikes targeted and eliminated senior militant leaders, disrupting their capacity for violence.

The president described a dire situation prior to the intervention, alleging that thousands of Christians, including women, children, and the elderly, had been slaughtered. He stated that the strikes sent a strong deterrent message to the militants. Trump claimed the operation dealt a significant blow to the terrorist leadership structure, saying, "We hit them very hard. We knocked out their leader. We knocked out their second leader and their third leader."

Trump framed the action within his administration's broader counterterrorism and national security doctrine, drawing a comparison to U.S. policy toward Iran. He argued both situations involve preemptive action to prevent greater threats, specifically citing the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The president further vowed to continue a global campaign to protect Christians...