The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has issued a statement reacting to remarks attributed to U.S. President, Donald Trump, regarding plans to launch military operations against the group in Nigeria.

In a propaganda message circulated on its usual communication channels, ISWAP described Trump as a “reckless American tyrant,” alleging that he was being influenced by “evangelical Christian and Jewish advisers.” The group claimed that the comments signalled what it described as an attempt by the U.S. to project itself as a “global defender of Christians.”

The extremist group further claimed that such rhetoric would draw the U.S. into conflicts in other countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique, where militant attacks have resulted in large-scale casualties. According to ISWAP, this development aligns with what it called the broader strategy of the Islamic State movement to stretch the U.S. military across multiple conflict zones.

The group cited battlefields in Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan and the Lake Chad Basin as areas where it believes Washington could become overextended if it decides to intervene militarily.

ISWAP also issued a directive to its fighters, urging them to avoid large gatherings, limit movement and reduce the use of smartphones, citing what it called a likelihood of intensified U.S. surveillance and drone activity. The warning was extended to other Islamic State affiliates globally.

In the statement, the group called on Muslims in West Africa to “unite” and take the alleged U.S. threat seriously, accusing the West of what it termed “crimes against African Muslims.” (Zagazola, but headline rejigged)