President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas night, describing the operation as a decisive response to what he said were sustained attacks on Christian communities.
In a statement shared on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the U.S. military launched what he called a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS fighters operating in the region. He accused the group of brutally targeting and killing Christians, warning that further military action would follow if the violence does not stop.
According to U.S. officials familiar with the operation, the strikes targeted two ISIS camps in Sokoto State, located in northwestern Nigeria. More than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles were reportedly fired from a U.S. Navy vessel positioned in the Gulf of Guinea. The official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the mission, said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Nigerian military.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the action in a separate statement, noting that an initial assessment indicated that multiple ISIS militants were killed during the strikes. The command emphasized that the operation was part of broader counterterrorism efforts aimed at curbing extremist violence and protecting civilians.
“Our goal is to protect Americans and disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they operate,” said General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of U.S. Africa Command. He added that the United States would continue to work closely with Nigerian and regional partners to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation amid ongoing security threats.
The announcement marks one of the latest U.S. military actions against non-state armed groups in Africa and highlights growing international concern over extremist violence in parts of Nigeria. While Nigerian authorities have yet to issue a detailed public response, the development has drawn significant attention both locally and internationally, especially given its timing on Christmas night.
As investigations and assessments continue, the strikes underscore Washington’s stance that it will respond forcefully to threats posed by extremist groups, while signaling deeper military collaboration with regional allies to confront terrorism in West Africa.
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