US Says It Hit Islamic State Targets in Northwest Nigeria

The United States has carried out a military strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, acting at the request of the Nigerian government, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

President Donald Trump said the operation targeted Islamic State fighters accused of attacking Christian communities in the region. Writing on Truth Social on Christmas Day, Trump described the strike as “powerful and deadly” and said the militants had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.”

The U.S. military’s Africa Command said the strike took place in Sokoto state and was coordinated with Nigerian authorities. According to the command, multiple Islamic State militants were killed in the operation. An earlier statement indicating the strike was conducted at Nigeria’s request was later removed, though U.S. officials reiterated cooperation with Abuja.

Intelligence and Coordination

Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed the strike was part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States, including intelligence sharing and strategic coordination. It said the collaboration had resulted in “precision hits on terrorist targets” in the country’s northwest.

Reuters has previously reported that the United States had been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November. A video released by the Pentagon showed at least one projectile launched from a warship, and a U.S. defense official said known Islamic State camps were targeted.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation, adding in a post on X: “More to come…”

Broader Security Context

Trump has warned in recent months that Christianity faces what he described as an “existential threat” in Nigeria, and has criticized the country’s response to violence against Christian communities. Nigeria’s government has countered that armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, and has said U.S. claims oversimplify a complex security situation.

Nigeria’s population is roughly split between Muslims, who mainly live in the north, and Christians, who are concentrated in the south. Islamist insurgency has plagued multiple regions of the country for years.

On Thursday, Nigerian police said a suspected suicide bomber killed at least five people and wounded 35 others at a mosque in the northeast, another area affected by militant violence.

In a Christmas message, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called for peace between people of different faiths and said he remained committed to protecting religious freedom for all Nigerians.