President Donald Trump says the U.S. has carried out a coordinated military strike against Islamist militants linked to Islamic State in north-west Nigeria, describing the operation as a series of “powerful” and precise attacks conducted alongside Nigerian forces.
While Trump framed the action as a response to violence against Christians, Nigerian officials stressed the strike targeted terrorists without regard to religion and followed long-planned intelligence cooperation between the two countries.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry confirmed air strikes on militant positions and said further action would depend on decisions by both governments, as analysts and human rights groups continue to dispute claims that Christians are being disproportionately targeted, noting that jihadist violence in Nigeria has killed people of all faiths over more than a decade.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/AUUmTMABSs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2025
