The Washington Post editorial board has expressed approval of the Trump administration's military actions against ISIS targets in Nigeria, describing them as a "welcome change" and advising the president to "remain engaged" in the region.
According to Fox News, the Post commended President Donald Trump for his "righteous strikes" against the Islamic States Sahel Province branch in Nigeria, where Christians and Christian institutions have been under siege in recent months. The editorial board highlighted that some of Trump's advisers advocate for the United States to focus on regional power within the Western Hemisphere, but the recent military action serves as a reminder of America's broader capabilities.
"A not insignificant cohort of President Donald Trumps advisers want the United States to abandon widespread commitments abroad and instead become a regional power focused on the Western Hemisphere. The presidents righteous strike against Islamic State targets in Nigeria is a reminder that America is capable of much more," the editorial board contended.
On Thursday, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that the U.S. military had conducted airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, targeting ISIS militants accused of killing Christians. He described the operation as decisive and issued a warning of further attacks should the violence persist. "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!" Trump wrote on Thursday.
While the Post supported the intervention, it questioned whether this action was a singular decision or the beginning of a more consistent policy. The editorial board acknowledged the temptation to withdraw from the region but argued for continued U.S. involvement, noting that the area has often been an afterthought for the President.
"The U.S. strikes in Nigeria targeted the Islamic States Sahel Province branch, which has clashed violently in recent years for territory with JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate that is currently trying to seize control of Mali by blocking fuel from entering the capital city of Bamako," the outlet reported. "If Mali falls, it would mark the first takeover of a country by an anti-Western Islamic terrorist group since the Taliban took Afghanistan."
The Post highlighted the Sahel region as "the worlds biggest epicenter for global terrorism," where half of the world's terrorism-related deaths occur. After being pushed out of territories in Iraq and Syria, terror groups have found a new stronghold in West Africa. The editorial board praised the administration's actions as a positive step but cautioned that without sustained support, these efforts might be in vain.
As reported by the Post, the U.S. previously had a regional counterterrorism initiative known as the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. However, a recent audit revealed it to be "underfunded, leaderless and mostly ineffective." Additionally, the Pentagon is considering reintegrating African Command into European Command, which was separated in 2008. "Nigeria, a relatively wealthy country in the region, is still battling insecurity on several fronts.
The central government has been ineffective at restoring security. Its good that Abuja is willing to work closely with Washington to stop the slaughter, and Trump would be wise to remain engaged," the post concluded.
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