United States President Donald Trump has said American forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists operating in northwestern Nigeria, warning that further military action would follow if attacks on Christians continue.
Trump made the statement on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, where he said the strikes were ordered by him as Commander-in-Chief and executed by the U.S. Department of War.
According to the president, the operation targeted ISIS elements allegedly responsible for attacks on civilians, particularly Christians, in parts of Nigeria.
Trump Confirms US Airstrikes
In his post, Trump wrote that U.S. forces conducted what he described as “powerful and deadly” strikes against ISIS militants in Nigeria.
He added that the operation followed earlier warnings issued to the group, stating that continued violence against Christians would trigger a military response.
“The Department of War executed numerous strikes,” Trump said, adding that the United States would not allow extremist groups to flourish under his leadership.
US Defence Secretary Confirms Cooperation With Nigeria
In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation and expressed appreciation for cooperation from Nigerian authorities.
Hegseth said the U.S. government had made clear its opposition to attacks on civilians and that the military remained prepared to act against terrorist groups.
AFRICOM Identifies Sokoto State
The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) also confirmed the strike in a statement posted on X.
According to AFRICOM, the operation was conducted on December 25, 2025, in Sokoto State, in coordination with Nigerian security authorities, and resulted in the killing of multiple ISIS fighters.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria,” the statement read.
Context of Rising Insecurity
The development comes amid persistent security challenges in Nigeria, where several armed groups—including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)—have carried out attacks in different regions.
The airstrikes were reported a day after an explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which killed several people and injured others, in what authorities described as a suspected suicide bombing.
Earlier Warnings From Trump
Last month, Trump warned that the United States could reconsider aid to Nigeria if stronger action was not taken against extremist violence.
In a previous post dated November 1, the U.S. president said he had instructed defence officials to prepare for possible military action against terrorist groups operating in Nigeria.
Broader US Military Operations
Since returning to office in January, Trump has authorised military operations in several regions, including Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Syria, Iran, and parts of international waters, as part of broader counter-terrorism efforts.
The U.S. government has not disclosed further operational details regarding the Nigeria strike, while Nigerian authorities are yet to issue a formal response.
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