Highlights:
- Donald Trump confirms US strikes on ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria
- Trump claims attacks were in response to killings of Christians
- US Africa Command says strikes killed multiple ISIS militants
- Nigeria disputes claims of one-sided religious persecution
- Operation reportedly carried out at Nigeria’s request
President Donald Trump on Thursday (25) announced that the United States had carried out what he described as a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS militants operating in northwest Nigeria. The announcement was made on Christmas Day through Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, using language that immediately drew global attention.
According to Trump, the military action was ordered in response to what he called the “vicious killing” of Christians in Nigeria. He said the operation targeted ISIS fighters who, in his view, have been carrying out attacks against Christian communities at alarming levels. Trump added that the strikes were executed by what he referred to as the US “Department of War,” a phrase he has used instead of the Department of Defense.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum in northwest Nigeria,” Trump wrote, claiming the group had been killing innocent Christians “at levels not seen for many years.” He concluded his message with a controversial line wishing “Merry Christmas” to everyone, including the “dead terrorists.”
The US military’s Africa Command later confirmed that the strikes had taken place. In a post on X, AFRICOM said the operation was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS militants. The command did not release details about the exact location or scale of the operation.
Trump has repeatedly warned in recent months that Christianity faces what he calls an “existential threat” in Nigeria. Beginning in late October, he publicly criticized Nigeria’s government, accusing it of failing to protect Christian communities and suggesting that US military intervention could follow if violence continued.
Nigeria’s government, however, has pushed back against Trump’s characterization of the crisis. Officials have stated that armed groups in the country target both Muslims and Christians and that the violence is driven by a complex mix of terrorism, banditry, and local conflicts rather than religion alone. Nigerian authorities have also emphasized their ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom.
Despite disagreements over the nature of the violence, Nigeria has agreed to work more closely with the United States to strengthen its fight against militant groups. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south, a dynamic that often complicates security and political challenges.
Trump, meanwhile, said the United States would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism” to thrive under his leadership, signaling that further action could follow if attacks continue.
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