Trump says military forces would go in ‘guns-a-blazing’ to wipe out Islamic terrorists

US President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible "fast" military action in Nigeria if the West African nation fails to crack down on the killing of Christians.

The US government will also immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation and top oil producer, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

If the United States sends in military forces, it would go in "'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities," Trump wrote, without providing any evidence of specifics about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria. Trump called Nigeria a "disgraced country" and warned its government must move quickly. "If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!" he wrote. Abuja had no immediate reaction to Trump's threat of military action. 

US carries out strike in Caribbean, kills 3 more alleged drug smugglers    

West Palm Beach (US): The US military has carried out another lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Saturday. Hegseth in a social media post said the vessel was operated by a US-designated terrorist organisation. He said three people were killed in the strike. It's at least the 15th such strike carried out by the US military in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September. "This vessel-like EVERY OTHER-was known by our intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling, was transiting along a known narco-trafficking route, and carrying narcotics," Hegseth said in a posting on X.  The US military has now killed at least 64 people in the strikes.

Trump to host Syrian president for talks, meeting likely on Nov 10     

West Palm Beach (US): President Donald Trump will host Ahmad al-Sharaa for talks, a first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House, an administration official said on Saturday. The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly about the yet to be formally announced engagement, said that the meeting is expected to take place on November 10. Trump met with al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia in May in what was the first encounter between the two nations' leaders in 25 years. Syria continues to struggle to emerge from decades of international isolation. The meet, on sidelines of Trump's get-together with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, was seen as a major turn of events for a Syria that is still adjusting to life after the over 50-year, iron-gripped rule of the Assad family. Al-Sharaa once had a $10 million US bounty on his head.