US President Barack Obama made Christmas phone calls to troops wounded in an evacuation effort in South Sudan last week, the White House said Wednesday, dpa reported.
Three US aircraft were hit by small-arms fire Saturday during an operation to evacuate US citizens, amid the eruption of ethnic violence in the world's newest nation. Four US soldiers were injured.
Obama and his family are spending the holiday in his native state of Hawaii, a White House official said.
Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama plan to visit US marines stationed on the island.