WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump said the United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria, describing the operation as a response to attacks targeting Christians in the West African nation.
In a Christmas evening post on his social media platform, Trump said U.S. forces launched what he called a “powerful and deadly” strike against Islamic State elements operating in Sokoto state. He did not provide details on the targets hit or the extent of damage caused.
A U.S. Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because details have not been publicly released, said the strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and were approved by the Nigerian government.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the cooperation, saying it involved intelligence sharing and strategic coordination conducted in a manner “consistent with international law, mutual respect for sovereignty, and shared commitments to regional and global security.”
Trump said the airstrikes targeted militants “who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” Nigerian officials and security analysts, however, have repeatedly stressed that the country’s prolonged security crisis affects both Christians—who are predominant in the south—and Muslims, who form the majority in the north.
“Terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims or other communities, remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the Nigerian Foreign Ministry said.
Nigeria is battling multiple armed groups, including at least two with links to the Islamic State. These include the Islamic State West Africa Province, an offshoot of Boko Haram operating mainly in the northeast, and the lesser-known Lakurawa group, which has gained prominence in northwestern states such as Sokoto.
Security analysts said the U.S. strikes may have targeted Lakurawa, which has expanded its operations over the past year, launching attacks on remote communities and security forces while using forested areas spanning multiple states as hideouts.
“Lakurawa is a group that is actually controlling territories in Nigeria, in Sokoto state and in other states like Kebbi,” said Malik Samuel, a Nigerian security researcher at Good Governance Africa. He said the group’s growth has been fueled by the limited presence of state authorities and security forces in vulnerable areas.
Nigeria’s government has previously rejected claims that violence in the country is directed solely at Christians, noting that extremist attacks have claimed victims across religious lines.
Last month, Trump ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria, citing what he described as persecution of Christians. The U.S. State Department has since announced visa restrictions on Nigerians and their family members accused of involvement in attacks on Christians, and recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.
Trump said U.S. defense officials had carried out “numerous perfect strikes” and warned that the United States “will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation with about 220 million people, is nearly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Beyond Islamist extremism, the country faces a complex mix of security challenges, including farmer-herder conflicts, communal violence, ethnic rivalries, secessionist movements, and criminal gangs.
While the U.S. military presence in Africa has declined in recent years, Trump has continued to apply diplomatic and military pressure as Nigeria grapples with repeated attacks on schools, churches, and villages affecting both Christian and Muslim communities.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a post on X late Thursday that the president had been clear in condemning the killing of Christians in Nigeria. He added that U.S. forces were “always ready,” noting the strikes took place on Christmas, and thanked the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation.
