The United States has carried out a major airstrike against alleged ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, President Donald Trump announced late Friday, marking a significant escalation of Washington’s direct military involvement in the region.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he personally authorized what he described as a “deadly and powerful” strike against ISIS operatives in Nigeria. Reiterating long-standing claims that Christians in the country are being targeted by extremist groups, Trump praised the operation and the US military.

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” Trump wrote. He added, “May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

According to Reuters, which cited a US official, the strike was carried out at the request of the Nigerian government. The operation reportedly took place in Sokoto State, where several ISIS-linked militants were killed.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed the airstrike, stating that it was conducted following a formal request from Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS operatives. AFRICOM did not disclose further operational details.

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also commented on the strike, highlighting cooperation between Washington and Abuja. “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth said in a statement on X. “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”

Trump’s remarks come amid heightened rhetoric from the White House regarding violence in Nigeria. Last month, the president warned of possible US military action, claiming there was a “mass slaughter of Christians” in the country. Nigerian authorities have strongly rejected such accusations, insisting that the state is not engaged in religious persecution and noting that the country’s constitution guarantees religious freedom.

Nigeria has faced more than a decade of violence from armed groups, including Boko Haram, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and various criminal militias, particularly in the north and center of the country. These groups have carried out attacks involving bombings, kidnappings, and raids on rural communities.

While some attacks have targeted Christian villages, churches, and clergy—fueling claims of faith-based persecution—analysts emphasize that Muslim communities have also suffered extensively. Large areas in northeastern Nigeria have been devastated, with entire towns displaced or destroyed regardless of religious affiliation.

On November 1, Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to prepare “options for possible military measures” in Nigeria, framing the move as an effort to protect Christians. He warned that if the Nigerian government “continues to allow the killing of Christians,” the United States could suspend all aid and potentially intervene militarily.

Those comments triggered widespread backlash in Nigeria, with civil society groups and political commentators accusing Trump of spreading misinformation and inflaming sectarian tensions in an already fragile security environment. (ILKHA)