The United States has carried out a series of military strikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, an action ordered directly by President Donald Trump and conducted with the cooperation of the Nigerian government.
Trump Announces 'Deadly' Christmas Strike
President Trump announced the military intervention on his Truth Social platform on Friday 26 December 2025. He stated that the strikes were "powerful and deadly" and targeted "ISIS Terrorist Scum" in Nigeria's Sokoto State.
"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria," Mr Trump wrote. He explicitly linked the action to the militants' alleged campaign of violence against Christians, claiming the group had been "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries."
He added a stark warning had been delivered: "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."
Coordination and Confirmation from Authorities
The operation was confirmed by US Africa Command, which stated it was conducted "in coordination with Nigerian authorities". A US official, speaking to the Reuters news agency, confirmed the strikes had killed multiple targets.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the President's statements on social media platform X, writing: "The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight - on Christmas. More to come..." He also expressed gratitude for Nigeria's "support and cooperation".
Nigeria's foreign ministry later confirmed that precision air strikes by the US had hit "terrorist targets" in the country's north-west. The ministry stated Nigeria was cooperating with the US in "addressing the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism".
Background of Tensions and Nigerian Response
The military action follows a month of escalating rhetoric from the Trump administration regarding Nigeria. In November, Mr Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to plan for potential military action following reports of Christian persecution.
His government also designated Nigeria a 'country of particular concern' under the International Religious Freedom Act, announcing visa restrictions for Nigerians involved in violence against Christians.
Nigeria's government has previously challenged the characterisation of the conflict as solely religious. While acknowledging cooperation with the US, it has stated that Mr Trump's claims misrepresent the country's complex security challenges, noting that armed groups also target Muslims.
In a statement after the strikes, Nigeria's foreign ministry emphasised: "Nigeria reiterates that all counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the primacy of protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity."
The statement concluded that "terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria's values."
The context for these tensions includes a severe security situation in northern Nigeria. Just last month, one of the country's biggest mass abductions saw more than 300 students taken from a Catholic school; they were later freed by 22 December.
