Trump Announces Successful Strikes Against ISIS in Nigeria on Christmas

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had ordered military strikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” attacking Christian communities. The operation was timed for Christmas Day, adding symbolic significance to the military action.
The strikes followed warnings Trump had issued in October and November when he described the violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” approaching genocidal proportions. The president had explicitly threatened military intervention if the attacks persisted, warnings that have now been backed by action.
In his statement, Trump detailed that the strikes targeted militants engaged in what he called the vicious killing of primarily innocent Christians. He credited the Department of War with executing precise and effective strikes that only American military forces could accomplish. The president emphasized his administration’s commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from gaining strength.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes were part of established security cooperation with the United States. This collaboration includes intelligence sharing and strategic planning to address terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials stressed that terrorist violence against any religious community represents an affront to the nation’s values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s cooperation and indicated that more operations could follow. He noted that ISIS had received Trump’s message on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage of the strikes showing missiles launching from naval vessels. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while participating in the security cooperation, has maintained that Nigeria’s constitution protects all religious groups and that the country is committed to working with the US while upholding religious freedom for all its citizens.