In a significant military operation authorized by President Donald Trump, United States forces executed a targeted strike against ISIS-affiliated militants in Nigeria’s northwestern Sokoto state on Christmas Day. The operation, conducted at the formal request of the Nigerian government, represents a notable escalation in US security cooperation with the West African nation.
President Trump announced the operation via his Truth Social platform, characterizing it as a ‘powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum’ who he claimed had been ‘viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years.’ The operation comes after months of heightened US intelligence gathering, including surveillance flights over Nigerian territory since late November.
US Africa Command confirmed the strike eliminated multiple ISIS militants at known terrorist camps. Pentagon-released footage indicated the involvement of naval assets, showing at least one projectile launched from a warship. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly thanked Nigerian authorities for their cooperation, hinting at potential future operations with the statement ‘More to come…’
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry characterized the operation as part of ongoing security collaboration with the United States, emphasizing intelligence sharing and strategic coordination against militant groups. However, the Nigerian government maintains a more nuanced position regarding religious violence, stating that armed groups target both Muslim and Christian communities and that US claims of Christian persecution oversimplify the complex security situation.
The strike occurs against a backdrop of escalating violence in the region, including a suspected suicide bombing in northeast Nigeria that killed five people and injured 35 others on the same day. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu used his Christmas message to call for religious harmony while reaffirming his commitment to protecting all Nigerians from violence.
This operation follows similar large-scale US strikes against ISIS targets in Syria earlier in December, demonstrating the Trump administration’s continued willingness to employ military force against terrorist organizations globally.