US Conducts Airstrikes Against Islamic State in Nigeria, Trump Reports

President Donald Trump announced that the United States has executed significant airstrikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) in northwestern Nigeria. He condemned the group as “terrorist scum,” accusing them of specifically targeting and brutally murdering innocent Christians.

In a statement, Trump emphasized that the US military performed multiple successful strikes, while the US Africa Command (Africom) confirmed that the operation took place in Sokoto state, in collaboration with Nigerian forces.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar characterized the initiative as a “joint operation” focused on eliminating “terrorists,” clarifying that it does not pertain to any specific religion. He noted that the operation had been in the works for a considerable time and utilized intelligence shared by Nigeria.

Minister Tuggar did not dismiss the possibility of further military actions, indicating that such decisions would rely on the leadership of both nations. In a post on Truth Social, Trump asserted that under his administration, the US would not permit radical Islamic terrorism to flourish.

Last November, Trump directed the military to ready itself for action in Nigeria against Islamist militant factions. While he did not specify which incidents he was referencing, there have been rising claims regarding the genocide of Christians in Nigeria within certain right-wing circles in the US.

On Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the Nigerian government, adding a festive note with a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” on social media. The US Department of Defense subsequently shared footage appearing to show a missile launch from a naval vessel.

The following morning, Nigeria’s foreign ministry released a statement affirming that the government remains engaged in organized security collaborations with international partners, including the United States, to combat the ongoing threat of terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry highlighted that this alliance has led to precise strikes on terrorist positions in the northwest.

Monitoring groups have indicated that there is a lack of evidence supporting the notion that Christians are being killed at a higher rate than Muslims in Nigeria, a country approximately evenly split between the two faiths. An adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu remarked that any military interventions against jihadist groups should be executed collaboratively.

Daniel Bwala stated that Nigeria welcomes US assistance in confronting Islamist militants while asserting its sovereignty. He emphasized that the jihadists do not discriminate based on religion and have caused casualties among individuals of all faiths, as well as those without religious affiliation.

President Tinubu has reiterated the importance of religious tolerance in Nigeria, stressing that the security challenges affect all citizens, regardless of their beliefs. Previously, Trump labeled Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” due to the perceived “existential threat” to its Christian population, claiming that “thousands” have been killed without providing substantiated evidence.

This designation by the US State Department allows for the imposition of sanctions on nations that engage in severe violations of religious freedom. Following Trump’s remarks, Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to collaborating with the US and the global community to safeguard people of all faiths.

For over a decade, jihadist factions, including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province, have wreaked havoc in northeastern Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of thousands, predominantly Muslims, according to Acled, an organization that analyzes political violence globally. Additionally, ongoing conflicts between mainly Muslim herders and Christian farming groups over access to resources have led to cyclical violence that has claimed numerous lives.

Human rights organizations maintain that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that Christians are being disproportionately targeted. Recently, the US also reported conducting a “massive strike” against IS in Syria, with Central Command announcing that aircraft and artillery had struck over 70 targets across central Syria.