United States President Donald Trump has said US forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in northwestern Nigeria and warned that further attacks would follow if the group continued killing Christians.
Trump made the claim on Thursday in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying he ordered the strikes as commander in chief.
He wrote, “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries!
“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.
“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.
“May God bless our military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
In a separate post on X, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation was carried out with Nigerian government support.
He wrote, “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas.
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
US Africa Command also confirmed the operation in a post on X, saying several Islamic State fighters were killed in Sokoto State.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the statement said.
The reported airstrikes came a day after a bomb explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, killed five people and injured several others in what was suspected to be a suicide attack.
Last month, Trump warned that the United States could cut off aid to Nigeria and take military action if the government failed to do more to stop extremist attacks on Christians. He said he had instructed the War Department to prepare for possible action against what he described as terrorist groups in the country.
