President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that the United States military conducted a series of “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria. The operation, executed on Christmas night, follows weeks of escalating rhetoric from the White House regarding the targeted killing of Christians in the region. In a statement released on social media, the President framed the strikes as a direct response to what he described as the “vicious” slaughter of innocent believers.
The strikes were carried out by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which reported that the mission was conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government. Military officials confirmed the strikes hit ISIS camps in Sokoto State, resulting in the deaths of multiple militants. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth characterized the mission as part of a broader effort to eliminate terrorist threats, noting that the “Department of War” remains ready to act whenever Christian communities are targeted.
This military intervention follows a November warning from the President, during which he threatened to enter Nigeria “guns-a-blazing” if extremist violence did not subside. In the weeks leading up to the attack, the State Department had already begun implementing visa restrictions on individuals linked to the violence and designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
While the Nigerian government has acknowledged and cooperated with the U.S. mission, it has previously maintained that extremist attacks in the region affect people of all faiths, not just Christians. Despite these complexities, the Trump administration has signaled that this Christmas operation may not be an isolated event. Hegseth noted that there is “more to come,” suggesting a potential shift toward a more aggressive U.S. military footprint in West Africa.
