US Military Strikes on Nigeria

Summary

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Fox News Hourly Update: US Military Strikes on Nigeria

Date: December 26, 2025
Host: Paul Stevens, FOX News Podcasts
Episode Theme:
This episode delivers the latest headlines, focusing on the U.S. military strikes in northwest Nigeria targeting ISIS, the ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine, a tragic UPS plane crash update, looming winter weather in New York, President Trump's push on healthcare costs, and tensions in Syria.

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Main Theme

The central theme of this news update is the United States' involvement in recent military actions and international affairs, with a primary focus on U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Nigeria following church attacks, coupled with updates on Russia-Ukraine negotiations and notable national news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Military Strikes in Nigeria

[00:02-00:52]

• Paul Stevens: Announces that the U.S. has conducted airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night, specifically targeting ISIS, after recent killings of Christians allegedly carried out by the group.

• President Trump’s Statement (via Truth Social):

  • Directs attention to a "powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum" who have been "viciously killing primarily innocent Christians" at unprecedented levels.
  • Emphasizes his warning to terrorists that there would be consequences for continued violence.
  • Quote:

    "I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was."
    — President Trump as relayed by Peter Doocy [00:32]

• Context: The attacks follow a series of ISIS-linked incidents globally during the holiday season.

• Contested Claims:

  • Paul Stevens highlights that Trump’s narrative of "Christian persecution" is disputed by both the Nigerian government and regional analysts.
  • Quote:

    "The president's claims about Christian persecution have been disputed by both the Nigerian government and some regional analysts."
    — Paul Stevens [00:52]

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2. Ukraine Peace Efforts

[01:07-01:41]

• Ryan Schmelz: Reports ongoing work during Christmas to broker peace in Ukraine.
  • Key Participants:
    • President Trump's special envoy Steve Wykoff
    • Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law and unofficial adviser)
    • Ukrainian President Zelensky and his officials
  • Peace Discussions:
    • Zelensky calls the talks "very good," sharing optimism over substantive ideas for a shared peace outcome.
    • Quote:

      "There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace."
      — President Zelensky, as relayed by Ryan Schmelz [01:21]

  • Stalemate:
    • Despite prioritization and high-level talks, no agreement has yet been reached.

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3. UPS Plane Crash Update

[01:41-01:57]

• Paul Stevens:
  • Confirms the 15th fatality from the November 4 UPS plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Accident Details:
    • The aircraft's left engine and pylon separated from the wing during takeoff, causing the crash.

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4. Weather Advisory: Northeast Winter Storm

[02:27-03:12]

• Jane Menard (FOX Weather):
  • New York City faces a winter storm warning:
    • 5–8 inches of snow expected Friday night to Saturday morning
    • Ice storm warnings for western Pennsylvania
    • Widespread travel disruptions forecasted
  • Travel Advisory:
    • "If you can get an early jump, I would do it by tonight."
      — Jane Menard [02:48]
    • Urges listeners to prepare to stay put as travel may be severely impacted.

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5. President Trump’s Push on Health Insurance Costs

[03:12-03:41]

• Paul Stevens & Jared Halpern:

  • President Trump is pressing major health insurers to lower premiums due to expiring subsidies which will raise costs for Affordable Care Act buyers.

• Presidential Quote:

  "I want to meet with them and I want to say I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down. And maybe if they do that, we'll be able to not cut them out. We'll be able to continue to deal with them."
  — President Trump [03:31]

• Policy Goals:

  • Trump supports federal funding going directly to individuals to purchase their own insurance.

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6. Syria Mosque Bombing

[03:57-04:23]

• Paul Stevens:
  • Reports a bombing at a mosque in Homs, Syria, resulting in at least 6 deaths and 21 injuries during Friday prayers.
  • Context:
    • Growing sectarian, ethnic, and political tensions countrywide, despite a decrease in large-scale fighting.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump (as read by Peter Doocy, [00:32]):

  "I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was."

• Paul Stevens ([00:52]):

  "The president's claims about Christian persecution have been disputed by both the Nigerian government and some regional analysts."

• Ukrainian President Zelensky (relayed by Ryan Schmelz, [01:21]):

  "There are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace."

• Jane Menard ([02:48]):

  "If you can get an early jump, I would do it by tonight."

• President Trump ([03:31]):

  "I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S. Nigeria Military Strike & Response: [00:02–00:52]
• Ukraine Peace Talks: [01:07–01:41]
• UPS Plane Crash Fatality Update: [01:41–01:57]
• Northeast Winter Storm Warning: [02:27–03:12]
• Health Insurance Costs Meeting: [03:12–03:41]
• Syria Homs Mosque Bombing: [03:57–04:23]

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Summary Takeaway

This episode provides an up-to-the-minute roundup of key world events, with a focus on U.S. military action in Nigeria as a response to violence against Christians by ISIS—though the narrative is contested in international circles. Peace efforts in Ukraine remain ongoing but unresolved. Domestic news rounds out the hour with headlines on severe weather, airline tragedy aftermath, a major push on healthcare prices, and fresh violence in Syria, reflecting ongoing global volatility and policy challenges.

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For more news updates, tune in to Fox News Radio Hourly Update.

Transcript

[Paul Stevens]

American military strikes. I'm Paul Stevens, Fox News. President Trump says the U.S. launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria Christmas night targeting ISIS for allegedly killing Christians. He called the operation decisive and warned about further attacks, Fox says.

[Peter Doocy]

Peter Doocy in D.C. president Trump's official word on this came via Truth Social in a post that says 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. I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay. And tonight there was. This follows a handful of ISIS linked or ISIS inspired attacks that rattled the whole world this holiday season.

[Paul Stevens]

Now the president's claims about Christian persecution have been disputed by both the Nigerian government and some regional analysts as the Trump administration meantime and Ukrainian officials working through Christmas to try and bring an end to the war in Ukraine with Russia.

[Ryan Schmelz]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he and Ukrainian leaders had a very good conversation with President Trump's special envoy Steve Wykoff and the president's son in law and unofficial adviser Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian leader says they discussed certain substantive details of the ongoing work toward a peace plan, saying, quote, there are good ideas that can work toward a shared outcome and the lasting peace. President Trump has made it a priority to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but so far all sides have been unable to come to an agreement. In Washington, Ryan Schmelz, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

And the 15th victim has died from injuries sustained in the crash of a UPS plane in Louisville, Kentucky on 4 November. The aircraft's left engine and left pylon broke away from the wing just as the plane was taking off. America is listening to FOX news.

[Jack Daniels Sponsor]

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[Paul Stevens]

The New York City area could soon be turned into a post Christmas winter wonderland. FOX Weather meteorologist Jane Menard.

[Jane Menard]

A winter storm warning now in effect for New York City where we're calling for 5 to 8 inches of snow Friday night into early Saturday morning. So yes, maybe 24 hours removed from a white Christmas, but we are going to see snow in the Northeast. Ice storm warnings have been upgraded across parts of western PA Winter weather advisories in place for millions of people impacted, especially when it comes to travel, road travel, air travel will be a nightmare come tomorrow. So if you can get an early jump, I would do it by tonight. Come tomorrow, plan to be hunkered in at your location and that storm will.

[Paul Stevens]

Arrive as many are set to return from Christmas holiday travel. President Trump wants major health insurers to bring down their costs.

[Jared Halpern]

A meeting with the president and major insurance executives could happen as early as next week as President Trump pressures the health care companies to bring down prices ahead of premium spikes for millions of Americans.

[President Trump]

And I want to meet with them and I want to say I want you to cut your rates way down, way, way down. And maybe if they do that, we'll be able to not cut them out. We'll be able to continue to deal with them.

[Jared Halpern]

Individuals who buy health care coverage through the Affordable Care act are facing higher premiums when subsidies expire at the end of the year. President Trump wants federal funding to be given directly to individuals to buy their own health insurance. In Washington, Jared Halpern, FOX News.

[Paul Stevens]

Authorities say a bombing in a mosque in the Syrian city of Homs during Friday prayers today killed at least six people, wounding 21 others. That attack coming as tensions have flared across several parts of Syria in recent weeks. As long running sectarian, ethnic and political fault lines continue to destabilize the country even as some large scale fighting has largely subsided. I'm Paul Stevens. This is FOX News.

[Ainsley Earhart]

This is Ainsley Earhart. Thank you for joining me for the.

[Jane Menard]

52 episode podcast series the Life of.

[Podcast Narrator]

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