US Africa Command confirmed that American forces carried out airstrikes in Sokoto State at the request of Nigerian authorities, k!lling several Islamic State militants at known camps.
The operation followed weeks of intelligence-gathering flights over large areas of Nigeria that began in late November, according to Reuters.
The strikes come after Donald Trump repeatedly warned that Christianity was under what he described as an “existential threat” in Nigeria and threatened military action over attacks on Christian communities.
A video released by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile fired from a U.S. warship, while a U.S. defense official said multiple militants were hit in coordinated strikes.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the operation was part of ongoing security cooperation with Washington, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination. “This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” the ministry said in a post on X. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also acknowledged the collaboration, thanking the Nigerian government for its support and adding: “More to come…”
Trump publicly announced the strikes on Christmas Day from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, saying on Truth Social: “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. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
.@POTUS “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… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025
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