On December 25, 2025, the United States military carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria, marking a major action on Christmas Day. The strikes were ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said they were aimed at extremist fighters accused of attacking civilians in the region.
President Trump announced the operation as a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS militants. He said the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily innocent Christians,” and warned that the U.S. would take further action if the violence continued. He also wished a Merry Christmas to U.S. troops and emphasized that the military would not allow radical terrorism to prosper.
The airstrikes took place in Sokoto State in northwest Nigeria and were coordinated with the Nigerian government. Officials confirmed that the operation was carried out in cooperation with U.S. forces, including joint intelligence sharing and strategic planning. They described the strikes as precision hits on terrorist targets and stressed that the action was part of broader security cooperation.
According to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the operation targeted multiple ISIS camps in the region, and several militants were killed. The exact number of casualties has not been disclosed. Both U.S. and Nigerian authorities said the action was aimed at weakening the extremist group’s capabilities.
The strikes come amid ongoing violence in Nigeria, where Islamist extremist groups — including ISIS‑affiliated fighters have been active for years, especially in the north and northeast. These groups have carried out attacks against various communities, contributing to a complex security situation involving religious, ethnic, and political tensions.
President Trump’s announcement followed a period of heightened rhetoric from Washington about violence in Nigeria. In the months leading up to the strikes, Trump had accused Nigerian authorities of failing to stop attacks on Christian communities and had threatened military intervention if the situation did not improve.
Nigerian officials, while cooperating on the operation, emphasized that extremist violence affects people of all faiths, not only Christians, and stressed that the country’s security challenges are complex and not solely religious in nature.
The Christmas Day airstrikes mark a significant moment in U.S. counter‑terrorism efforts in West Africa and reflect ongoing international cooperation to address militant threats in the region.
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