The United States plans to send about 200 troops to Nigeria to train the country’s military in combating Islamist militants, a U.S. official said Tuesday, weeks after President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on what he called Islamic State targets.
The U.S. military confirmed last week that a small team of troops had already been deployed to Nigeria, marking the first public acknowledgment of American forces on the ground since airstrikes were conducted on Christmas Day.
Trump has indicated that additional U.S. military action in Nigeria remains possible, and Reuters has reported that the U.S. has been conducting surveillance flights over the country from Ghana since at least late November.
The official said the 200 troops will supplement a handful of U.S. military personnel already in Nigeria to assist local forces. U.S. Africa Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Nigeria has faced pressure from Washington after Trump alleged that the country was failing to protect Christians from Islamist militants operating in the northwest.
The Nigerian government has denied any systematic persecution of Christians, saying its forces are targeting armed groups responsible for attacks on both Christians and Muslims.
