U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said he ordered a military strike targeting Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) militants in Nigeria to be delayed by one day, calling the attack a “Christmas present” to the terror group.
“They were going to do it earlier, and I said, ‘Nope, let’s give a Christmas present,’ … They didn’t think that was coming, but we hit them hard. Every camp got decimated,” Trump told Politico.
Trump described ISIS as “terrible” and “butchers,” adding that U.S. forces struck the group “hard” in different locations. “They really got hit hard yesterday. They got a very bad Christmas present.”
According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the strikes were conducted in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities and targeted multiple ISIS fighters. Nigeria confirmed its continued collaboration with the U.S. on security operations against terrorism.
In a Truth Social post, Trump further said:
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”
In addition, Trump mentioned recent U.S. military strikes on a major maritime facility in Venezuela, though he did not provide specific details. He said the attacks occurred “two nights ago” and were carried out “very hard,” part of broader U.S. operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, including anti-narcotics missions.
The president criticised domestic political opposition, suggesting Democrats opposed the strikes primarily because he authorised them, and argued similar action by another official would not face the same criticism.
The U.S. military campaign has intensified since September, with 29 strikes resulting in at least 105 deaths. Caracas condemned the operations as “international piracy.”
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U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen and Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem claimed gold medals on Saturday, marking standout performances on the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as the city hosted events on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Winter weather has brought air travel in the German capital to a complete halt, stranding thousands of passengers as severe icing conditions make runways and aircraft unsafe for operation and force authorities to shut down one of Europe’s key transport hubs.
An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb that killed at least 31 people in the deadliest assault of its kind in the capital in more than a decade.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greek authorities said they have arrested a member of the armed forces on suspicion of leaking highly sensitive military information to foreign handlers allegedly linked to China.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Saturday after completing a round of talks with Iran.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen and Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem claimed gold medals on Saturday, marking standout performances on the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as the city hosted events on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
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