US launches strike with Nigeria after attacks targeted Christians
President Donald Trump said the United States launched a “powerful and deadly” strike against forces of the Islamic State group in Nigeria on Christmas evening, after spending weeks accusing the West African country’s government of failing to rein in attacks targeting Christians.
In a social media post made Thursday, Trump did not provide details about the strike or say how much damage it caused in Sokoto, a northwestern state where analysts have said militant groups operate from forests and remote areas.
A Defense Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public, said the U.S. worked with Nigeria to carry out the strikes and that they were approved by Abuja. The official did not specify what exact targets were hit.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the cooperation included exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination, saying the steps were “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty and shared commitments to regional and global security.”
The Associated Press reported it could not confirm the extent of the strikes’ impact. In addition to the Islamic State affiliate, Nigeria faces other armed groups in different regions, including at least two affiliated with Islamic State and the Lakurawa group, which has been prominent in parts of the northwest.
The AP report described the Islamic State affiliate known as the Islamic State West Africa Province in Nigeria’s northeast, as well as Lakurawa, which security analysts said has increasingly become lethal in northwest states. Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa, said Lakurawa can control territory in states including Sokoto and Kebbi and that the broader incursion of violent extremist groups reflects a near absence of state and security forces in certain hot spots.
Trump said the airstrikes were launched against Islamic State militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Nigerian officials have disputed the framing that the violence affects only Christians, saying people of many faiths have been attacked at the hands of extremists.
In a statement, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said “Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security.” The same response also addressed Trump’s criticisms of Nigeria and said attacks have struck multiple communities.
The AP report said Trump ordered the Pentagon last month to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria to try to curb what he called Christian persecution. It also reported that the State Department had announced it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in killing Christians in Nigeria, and that the U.S. had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Trump said U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” and he added that “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also posted about the action on X on Thursday night, saying “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” and writing that “ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas,” before thanking Nigeria’s government for support and cooperation.