President Trump Orders Christmas Day Airstrikes on ISIS Targets in Nigeria
U.S. military launches coordinated strikes in northwest Nigeria after weeks of warnings on extremist attacks against Christians
On Christmas Day, President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States had conducted “powerful and deadly” airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria, citing escalating violence against Christian communities.
In a message on his social media platform, Trump said the action was carried out “at my direction as Commander in Chief” and was aimed at militants who have been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The U.S. Africa Command said the strikes, carried out in Sokoto State, were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS fighters.
The operation marks a significant escalation of American military involvement in West Africa under Trump’s leadership and follows weeks of the president’s public warnings about violence in Nigeria.
In recent months, Trump had criticised Nigerian authorities for what he described as inadequate protection for Christians, placing Nigeria on a watch list for religious freedom concerns and threatening more assertive action if the situation did not improve.
Nigerian officials characterised the strikes as part of existing security cooperation with the United States, rooted in shared intelligence and strategic coordination to counter violent extremists.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the airstrikes as “precision hits on terrorist targets” and emphasised that armed groups in the region have affected people of all faiths, underscoring the complexity of the country’s security landscape.
Security analysts say the targeted groups include ISIS-affiliated factions such as the Lakurawa network, which has expanded its presence in Sokoto and neighbouring states.
Trump’s statement included a message of resolve, declaring that the United States “will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper” and wishing a Merry Christmas to American service members.
The strikes follow other recent U.S. military actions against ISIS affiliates abroad and signal a continued commitment by the Trump administration to combatting extremist threats internationally.
In a message on his social media platform, Trump said the action was carried out “at my direction as Commander in Chief” and was aimed at militants who have been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The U.S. Africa Command said the strikes, carried out in Sokoto State, were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS fighters.
The operation marks a significant escalation of American military involvement in West Africa under Trump’s leadership and follows weeks of the president’s public warnings about violence in Nigeria.
In recent months, Trump had criticised Nigerian authorities for what he described as inadequate protection for Christians, placing Nigeria on a watch list for religious freedom concerns and threatening more assertive action if the situation did not improve.
Nigerian officials characterised the strikes as part of existing security cooperation with the United States, rooted in shared intelligence and strategic coordination to counter violent extremists.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the airstrikes as “precision hits on terrorist targets” and emphasised that armed groups in the region have affected people of all faiths, underscoring the complexity of the country’s security landscape.
Security analysts say the targeted groups include ISIS-affiliated factions such as the Lakurawa network, which has expanded its presence in Sokoto and neighbouring states.
Trump’s statement included a message of resolve, declaring that the United States “will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper” and wishing a Merry Christmas to American service members.
The strikes follow other recent U.S. military actions against ISIS affiliates abroad and signal a continued commitment by the Trump administration to combatting extremist threats internationally.
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