The United States has carried out targeted military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants operating in northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation of Washington’s involvement in the country’s ongoing fight against Islamist insurgent groups, U.S. officials confirmed on Thursday.
President Donald Trump said the operation was authorized directly by him in his role as commander in chief. He described the action as a “decisive and lethal strike” aimed at ISIS fighters accused of launching deadly attacks on civilians, particularly Christian communities in the region. Trump announced the operation in a post on his Truth Social platform shortly after the strikes were executed.
The U.S. military’s Africa-focused command, U.S. Africa Command, confirmed that the airstrikes were conducted in Sokoto State and were coordinated with Nigerian authorities. Military officials said multiple militants were killed at known ISIS encampments. An initial social media statement indicating that the operation was launched at Nigeria’s request was later removed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Nigeria’s cooperation and suggested that further actions could follow, posting “More to come…” on social media.
The strikes come after weeks of heightened concern in Washington over escalating violence across Nigeria. In late October, Trump warned that Christianity in the country faced what he described as an “existential danger,” and cautioned that U.S. military intervention could occur if attacks on Christian populations did not subside. According to Reuters, U.S. intelligence and surveillance flights have been active over large areas of Nigeria since late November.
Nigerian officials have pushed back against claims that the violence is solely religiously motivated, stressing that extremist groups have targeted both Muslim and Christian communities. Authorities say the unrest reflects a broader and more complex national security crisis rather than a purely sectarian conflict.
At the same time, the Nigerian government has confirmed continued security cooperation with the United States, including intelligence sharing and joint counterterrorism initiatives aimed at weakening militant networks.
The announcement of the U.S. strikes coincided with reports of another deadly incident in Nigeria, where a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a mosque in the country’s northeast, killing at least five people and injuring dozens more. The attack underscored the persistent threat posed by extremist groups across the region.
Earlier on Thursday, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu used his Christmas message to call for peace, unity, and religious tolerance, reaffirming his government’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
The U.S. operation in Nigeria follows recent American military actions targeting ISIS-linked groups in the Middle East and reflects the Trump administration’s continued emphasis on confronting extremist threats beyond U.S. borders.
