US strikes ISIS targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day after Trump warning

The United States launched military strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump announced, fulfilling a threat he made weeks earlier to take action against what he described as the persecution of Christians in the West African nation.

Trump announced the attack late Thursday on social media, characterizing the operation as a response to ISIS targeting Christians in Nigeria. In a Truth Social post, the president declared he had ordered strikes against militants in Sokoto State who had been killing Christians.

U.S. Africa Command confirmed in a statement that it conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State, killing multiple ISIS terrorists. The command’s initial assessment indicated several militants were killed at ISIS camps, though specific casualty figures were not disclosed.

The Christmas Day operation followed weeks of escalating rhetoric from the Trump administration. In November, the president warned that if militants did not stop killing Christians, there would be severe consequences. He had previously ordered the Pentagon to develop plans for potential military action and threatened to suspend aid to Nigeria.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasized the administration’s stance on social media, writing that the president had been clear about ending the killing of Christians in Nigeria. Hegseth stated the Department of War was “always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas,” and warned of more actions to come while expressing gratitude for Nigerian government cooperation.

The Nigerian government confirmed it was engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism threats. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the coordinated strikes on terrorist targets while reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity.

The strikes come amid broader tensions between Washington and Abuja over religious violence in Nigeria. Recent attacks included gunmen storming Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, killing two and kidnapping dozens, and armed raiders abducting more than 300 students and staff from St. Mary’s School in Niger State.

However, the characterization of the violence as specifically targeting Christians remains disputed. Analysts have noted that while Christians are among those targeted, the majority of victims of armed groups are Muslims in Nigeria’s Muslim-majority north, where most attacks occur. Nigerian officials maintain that attacks by militant groups are less about religion than regional security challenges.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser told CNN that “the US and Nigeria are on the same page in the fight against terrorism,” while Tinubu himself has publicly committed to protecting all Nigerians from violence, regardless of religious affiliation.

The operation marks the latest in a series of U.S. military actions under Trump’s second term, following recent strikes against ISIS targets in Syria after the killing of American soldiers there. The president has positioned himself as a defender of Christians globally while also pledging to limit broader U.S. military intervention abroad.