WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — In a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in West Africa, the United States conducted precision airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwestern Nigeria on Thursday. The operation, confirmed by both the White House and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), took place on Christmas Day and targeted known extremist camps in Sokoto State.
President Donald Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago club, characterized the strikes as a “powerful and deadly” response to the ongoing “slaughter” of innocent Christians in the region. In a social media post, the President stated that the military had executed “numerous perfect strikes” against what he described as “ISIS Terrorist Scum.” He further warned that additional military action would follow if the violence against religious communities did not cease.
AFRICOM officials confirmed the strikes were carried out at the request of the Nigerian government. While specific casualty figures have not been finalized, the command’s initial assessment indicates that multiple militants were killed. A U.S. defense official noted that the targets were linked to the Islamic State-Sahel Province, an affiliate that has seen a resurgence in the border regions between Nigeria and Niger.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry verified the “precision hits,” framing the operation as part of a “structured security cooperation” aimed at neutralizing the persistent threat of violent extremism. While the Nigerian government maintained that groups like ISIS-West Africa (ISWAP) target both Muslims and Christians, they welcomed the assistance in bolstering national security.
The strikes follow weeks of intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria and represent the Trump administration’s shift toward a more aggressive counterterrorism posture in the Sahel, despite broader plans to consolidate regional commands.
Sources and Links
- U.S. Africa Command: U.S. Africa Command Conducts Strike against ISIS in Nigeria
- The Washington Post: U.S. strikes ISIS in Nigeria after Trump warnings on Christian killings
- CBC News: U.S. launches ‘powerful and deadly’ airstrikes in northwest Nigeria
- PBS News: U.S. launches strike against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, Trump says
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