In a significant escalation of US military involvement in West Africa, President Donald Trump has ordered a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, citing the persecution of Christian communities as a primary catalyst.
The United States military carried out a series of precision airstrikes on Thursday (December 25) targeting Islamic State-Sahel Province (ISIS-West Africa) camps in Nigeria’s Sokoto state. The operation, done on Christmas Day, was authorized by President Donald Trump after weeks of warnings that the Nigerian government was failing to protect its Christian population from “existential” threats. US Africa Command confirmed the strikes killed “multiple” terrorists and were carried out at the formal request of Nigerian authorities.
The strikes hit at least two known militant camps in the rugged terrain of northwest Nigeria, a region that’s recently seen a surge in violence from both jihadist groups and criminal “bandit” gangs. While the Pentagon released footage showing a projectile launched from a US warship, AFRICOM described the mission as a coordinated effort involving intelligence sharing and strategic precision hits.
The operation marks the first direct US military strike in Nigeria under the current administration. It follows a series of intelligence-gathering flights the US conducted over the region since late November. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the mission a success and hinted the campaign might not be over, saying on social media, “More to come.”
The decision to strike on Christmas Day was deeply symbolic. Since late October, President Trump has repeatedly claimed Christianity in Nigeria faces “genocide” at the hands of radical groups. In November, the US officially redesignated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” regarding religious freedom. While the Nigerian government has maintained that armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, it ultimately agreed to the US intervention to help its overstretched security forces.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum… who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” President Trump posted on Truth Social from Mar-a-Lago. “I have previously warned these terrorists… there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the collaboration, saying: “Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners… This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in the North West.”
This strike comes just one week after the US launched massive “vengeance” strikes, codenamed Operation Hawkeye Strike, against 70 ISIS targets in Syria. The dual-front offensive suggests a hardening of US foreign policy toward Islamic State affiliates globally, moving away from a purely advisory role to direct military action.
The security situation in northwest Nigeria remains volatile. Just hours before the US strikes, a bomb explosion at a mosque in the northeastern city of Maiduguri killed seven worshippers, highlighting the complex nature of the insurgency. As US forces continue intelligence flights, analysts expect more “precision strikes” if militant activity keeps up during the holiday season.
Also Read / ‘Declaration of Vengeance’: US launches massive airstrikes on ISIS in Syria.
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