The United States has launched a significant military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants operating in northwestern Nigeria, according to an announcement made Thursday by Donald Trump. The action represents the latest U.S. campaign against a nonstate extremist group, with the former president emphasizing that the targeted militants were responsible for brutal attacks, particularly against Christian communities.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Mr. Trump stated that American forces carried out a “powerful and deadly” strike against ISIS fighters in the region, accusing them of killing innocent Christians at levels not witnessed in generations.
Details of the Strike Operation
According to a senior U.S. military official who spoke anonymously due to operational sensitivity, the strike involved more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles. These missiles were launched from a U.S. Navy vessel stationed in the Gulf of Guinea and struck two ISIS-linked camps in Sokoto State, located in northwest Nigeria.
The official confirmed that the mission was conducted in coordination with the Nigerian military, highlighting cooperation between Washington and Abuja in counterterrorism efforts.
In an initial assessment, U.S. Africa Command reported that multiple ISIS fighters were killed during the attack.
U.S. Africa Command’s Position
In a formal statement, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, explained that American forces are working closely with Nigerian and regional partners to strengthen counterterrorism collaboration.
“Our objective is to protect American interests and disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they operate,” Anderson said, emphasizing that the campaign is focused on preventing further attacks on civilians.
Rising Threats in Northwest Nigeria
The strike zone lies near Nigeria’s border with Niger, an area increasingly affected by violence from Islamic State-Sahel, a regional ISIS affiliate. According to counterterrorism analyst Caleb Weiss, this group has been launching attacks against both security forces and civilian populations.
The U.S. intervention follows months of mounting pressure from Christian advocacy groups and senior Republican leaders, who have accused extremist groups in Nigeria of systematically targeting Christians.
Nigeria’s Ongoing Security Crisis
Nigeria has been battling multiple insurgencies for more than a decade, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians across religious lines. While Christian communities have faced severe violence, Nigerian authorities reject claims of a Christian genocide, noting that armed groups also kill large numbers of Muslims.
Officials stress that Nigeria’s violence stems from a complex network of militant factions, each driven by different motivations and operating in various regions of the country.
Despite these disagreements, Nigerian leaders have recently deepened engagement with the United States, particularly after Mr. Trump directed the Pentagon in November to prepare military options aimed at protecting Christian populations.
Intelligence and Timing of the Attack
The Christmas Day strike followed weeks of U.S. intelligence-gathering missions, including surveillance flights over wide areas of Nigeria that reportedly began in late November.
On the same day as the attack, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted online that the president had been clear about ending the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere. He added that the Department of Defense was prepared, stating that ISIS “found out tonight — on Christmas.”
Nigerian Government Response
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the precision strikes were approved and coordinated with the Nigerian government. Spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said that terrorist violence—regardless of whether it targets Christians, Muslims, or other communities—runs counter to Nigeria’s core values and undermines global peace and security.
Second ISIS Retaliation in One Week
The Nigeria strikes marked the second U.S. military response against ISIS in less than a week. Just days earlier, American forces carried out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, following a deadly ISIS attack that killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter.
U.S. Africa Command had prepared multiple military options in November, including airstrikes on known militant compounds in northern Nigeria. These plans were forwarded to the Pentagon and the White House for approval.
However, military officials privately cautioned that such strikes might have limited long-term impact due to the deeply rooted nature of Nigeria’s conflicts.
Broader Violence Across Nigeria
While the northwest is plagued by banditry and ransom kidnappings, the most intense insurgency remains in the northeast, where extremist groups such as Boko Haram and its more powerful offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have killed tens of thousands over the past decade.
Nigeria is not officially classified as a country at war, yet it experiences higher death tolls than many active conflict zones. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project, more than 12,000 people were killed by violent groups this year alone.
Recent Deadly Attack in Borno State
Just one day before the U.S. strikes, a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives during evening prayers at a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. Nigerian officials confirmed at least five deaths and dozens of injuries, while local media reports suggested that at least 12 victims were buried the following day.
Trump’s Final Remarks on Terrorism
In his statement, Mr. Trump reiterated that under his leadership, the United States would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to flourish. He praised the U.S. military and warned that further attacks would follow if extremist violence—especially against Christians—continues.
