US Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State targets in Nigeria have been met with praise by Donald Trump supporters, who had for months pressed for a forceful response to killings of Christians in the country.
The far-right activist Laura Loomer posted on X that the strikes were 'amazing', adding that she had been informed by the US defence department that they were a direct response to IS jihadists killing Christians. 'Death to all Islamic terrorists! Thank you,' she wrote.
Republican US House member Randy Fine of Florida described the strikes as an 'amazing Christmas present', having previously supported a congressional resolution calling for Nigeria to be designated a country of particular concern over religious violence. He said the president was showing that 'we will no longer tolerate these barbarians'.
The praise contrasts with caution from some Republicans over the Trump administration's campaign against Venezuela, where they have warned against direct military strikes and noted the poor history of US regime change efforts.
Other lawmakers echoed the support. West Virginia Republican Riley Moore, who introduced the Nigeria resolution, said the strike was 'just the first step' to ending the slaughter of Christians. North Carolina senator Ted Budd said IS was responsible for thousands of deaths and that Trump's 'decisive strikes will save lives'.
Pressure on the administration had been building since July, when the US Commission on International Religious Freedom issued an advisory citing the Nigerian government's slow response to attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province. In October, Senator Ted Cruz said the US could identify perpetrators of anti-Christian violence and intended to hold them accountable.
