Sokoto, Nigeria – The United States carried out an air strike against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on December 25 following a request from the Nigerian government as security cooperation between the two countries deepens against armed groups operating in West Africa.
US President Donald Trump announced the strike while spending Christmas Day at his Mar a Lago residence in Palm Beach Florida saying American forces had targeted Islamic State fighters accused of killing civilians in the region. He made the statement on his Truth Social platform describing the operation as a direct action ordered by him as commander in chief.
The US Africa Command later confirmed that the strike took place in Sokoto State in coordination with Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of several Islamic State militants at known camps used by the group.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that the operation was jointly planned by Abuja and Washington and was based on intelligence supplied by Nigerian agencies. He said the action was aimed at terrorist groups and was not linked to any religious agenda. Tuggar added that the operation had been in preparation for some time and further strikes could follow depending on decisions taken by the leadership of both countries.
The Nigerian foreign ministry said the strike formed part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination. The ministry said this cooperation had enabled precise air strikes against militant targets in the country’s northwest.
A video released by the Pentagon showed a projectile launched from a US warship while a defence official said multiple militants were targeted at Islamic State camps. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support and suggested additional actions could follow.
The strike comes after President Trump in late October warned that Christianity faced an existential threat in Nigeria and suggested possible military intervention over continued attacks on Christian communities. Nigerian authorities have pushed back against that narrative saying armed groups target both Muslims and Christians and that the security situation is complex.
Nigeria’s population is divided largely between Muslims who mainly live in the north and Christians who are predominantly in the south. The country has for years faced violence from various armed groups including Islamic State factions and Boko Haram.
Earlier on Thursday Nigerian police reported that a suspected suicide bomber killed at least five people and injured 35 others at a mosque in the northeast another area affected by Islamist insurgency.
President Bola Tinubu in a Christmas message called for peace across Nigeria particularly among people of different religious beliefs and said his government remained committed to protecting all citizens regardless of faith.
The US strike in Nigeria follows recent American military action against Islamic State targets in Syria as Washington intensifies its campaign against the group across different regions.
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