U.S. Conducts Airstrikes Against Islamic State Targets In Nigeria

The United States military has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, the White House and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed on Thursday.
The strikes, conducted on Christmas Day, December 25, were authorised by U.S. President Donald Trump and carried out in coordination with the Nigerian government, U.S. military officials said.
In a social media statement, President Trump described the operation as “powerful and deadly,” saying it targeted Islamic State fighters responsible for attacks on civilians in the region. He alleged that the militants had been involved in the killing of innocent civilians, particularly Christians.
AFRICOM confirmed that the airstrikes were carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities in parts of Sokoto State and resulted in the deaths of “multiple ISIS terrorists.” The U.S. military did not disclose further details on the exact locations struck or the number of casualties.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigerian counterparts for their “support and cooperation,” indicating that the operation formed part of ongoing counter-terrorism collaboration between both countries.
The intervention comes amid heightened political attention in Washington over Nigeria’s security challenges, including claims of religious persecution — assertions that have been disputed by the Nigerian government and independent analysts, who describe the violence as driven largely by insurgency and criminality rather than religion.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the airstrikes, describing them as part of sustained security cooperation with international partners. The ministry said the collaboration includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination, stressing that all counter-terrorism operations respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and are aimed at protecting civilian lives.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, continues to face multiple security threats, particularly from armed groups linked to the Islamic State and Boko Haram. The insurgencies have fuelled widespread displacement, humanitarian crises and persistent instability across the north and northeast.
The U.S. strikes underscore broader bilateral efforts to degrade violent extremist networks operating in the region.