On December 25, 2025, the United States launched airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL militants) in northwest Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in U.S. engagement against extremist groups in West Africa.
The strikes, conducted in Sokoto State, were aimed at militants the U.S. and Nigerian authorities say have been responsible for escalating violence across the region, especially attacks against Christian communities that U.S. officials have repeatedly condemned.
The operation involved precision strikes and coordination with Nigerian forces, according to U.S. Africa Command and statements from Nigerian officials acknowledging shared intelligence and cooperation.
In a message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, President Donald Trump framed the attack as a direct response to what he described as “vicious” and “historically unprecedented” violence against Christians.
“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 added forcefully: “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 also emphasized U.S. resolve, saying the U.S. “will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
The strike underscores mounting U.S. concern over Nigeria’s complex security challenges, where extremist groups like ISIS affiliates and Boko Haram have long fueled instability.
While Trump’s comments focused on religiously targeted violence, Nigerian authorities have stressed that militant attacks in the country affect communities of all faiths.