WASHINGTON – U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against Islamic State group militants in northwestern Nigeria at the request of Nigerian authorities, President Donald Trump said Friday, weeks after warning against any systemic assault on Christians in the country.
US Airstrikes Target Islamic State in Nigeria
The Nigerian foreign ministry confirmed the air strikes early Friday, describing them as “precision hits on terrorist targets.” The Department of Defense’s U.S. Africa Command said “multiple ISIS terrorists” were killed in the attack in Sokoto state.
Few details regarding the number of casualties were provided. Trump stated he had “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 added, “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues,” on his Truth Social platform.
U.S. defense officials released video of what appeared to be a nighttime missile launch from a U.S. battleship. This attack marks the first by U.S. forces in Nigeria under Trump, following his criticism of the West African nation in October and November over what he called an “existential threat” to Christians, amounting to “genocide.”
Nigeria’s government and independent analysts dispute framing the country’s violence as religious persecution. However, Trump, emphasizing his administration’s focus on global persecution of Christians, stressed last month that Washington was prepared to take military action in Nigeria to counter killings.
The Nigerian foreign ministry stated the country is working with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism and violent extremism. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth posted on X, expressing gratitude for Nigerian government support and cooperation.
The United States this year added Nigeria back to its list of countries of “particular concern” regarding religious freedom, leading to restrictions on visa issuance to Nigerians. Trump also threatened to halt all aid to Abuja if the killings of Christians continued.
Nigeria is almost evenly divided between a Muslim-majority north and a largely Christian south. The northeast has experienced over 15 years of jihadist violence from Boko Haram, resulting in more than 40,000 deaths and two million displaced people. Criminal gangs, known as “bandits,” also operate in the northwest, north, and center of the country, attacking villages and kidnapping residents.
On Wednesday, an explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri killed at least seven worshippers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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