The United States carried out military strikes against ISIS positions in Nigeria on Thursday, with President Donald Trump confirming the operation and accusing the terror group of carrying out sustained attacks against Christians in the region.
Announcing the development on Truth Social, Trump said the action followed reports of escalating violence by ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria.
“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!” Trump wrote.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed the operation, noting that it was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in multiple militant casualties.
“AFRICOM conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State, killing multiple ISIS terrorists. Lethal strikes against ISIS demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” the command said in a statement.
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Trump also referenced a warning he issued in November, in which he threatened military action if violence against Christians in Nigeria continued.
“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,” he wrote on Thursday. “The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
He added: “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
Last month, Trump designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (CPC) over religious violence, a classification that triggers consultations with the affected government, the development of a foreign policy response plan, and engagement with Congress within 90 days.
Reports from Reuters also indicated that the Trump administration had begun daily surveillance flights over Nigeria, coordinated with Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Reacting to the strikes, Hegseth reiterated the administration’s stance on protecting religious minorities.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” he wrote in a post on X.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said in November that the government remains committed to eliminating terrorism and welcomed international cooperation.
“The Government of Nigeria remains open and willing to work closely with the Government of the United States, other friendly nations and partners, to achieve our shared goal, the complete elimination of terrorism on Nigerian soil,” Idris said at a press conference, according to Reuters.
He added that as of November, Nigerian security forces had killed more than 13,500 militants, arrested 17,000 suspects, and rescued over 11,200 hostages, including women and children.
