US launches airstrike against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, targeting camps in Sokoto state, in response to attacks on Christians. Reuters image
The United States carried out a strike against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, targeting the group’s camps in Sokoto state. The operation was conducted at the request of Nigeria’s government, with the US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirming the strike killed multiple ISIS militants.
A Fight Against Terrorism
President Donald Trump announced the strike on his Truth Social platform, stating it was a response to ISIS’s targeting and killing of Christians in the region. Trump warned that more action would come if the violence continued, saying, “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria”.
The Nigerian government confirmed the strike, stating it was part of ongoing security cooperation with the US, involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to target militant groups. The foreign ministry said the strike led to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West”.
US Defense Secretary Welcome Nigeria’s Effort In Fighting Against Terrorism
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its support and cooperation, hinting at more action to come. The strike is seen as a significant move in the US’s fight against extremist violence in West Africa.
The operation marks the first confirmed direct US military action in Nigeria under Trump’s presidency. It follows Trump’s warnings in October that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria and threats of military intervention over the country’s failure to stop violence targeting Christian communities.
Nigeria’s government has said armed groups target both Muslims and Christians, and US claims of Christian persecution oversimplify the complex security situation. The country’s population is split between Muslims in the north and Christians in the south.
The strike comes amid heightened tensions, with a suspected suicide bomber killing five people and injuring 35 others at a mosque in northeast Nigeria earlier on Thursday. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called for peace in the country, especially between individuals of differing religious beliefs.
US Worked Together With Nigeria Government To Locate The Terrorists Campus
The US military has been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over Nigeria since late November, indicating increased security cooperation between the US and Nigeria. The strike is part of broader efforts to combat extremist groups in the region.
Trump’s announcement of the strike was made while he was at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he has been spending the holiday. The US military recently launched separate strikes against ISIS targets in Syria.
Experts recognize the strike may temporarily disrupt ISIS activities but emphasize that lasting stability hinges on Nigeria’s commitment to security reform and addressing local grievances.
The US Africa Command confirmed the strike was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, targeting known ISIS camps in Sokoto state. Multiple ISIS militants were killed in the operation.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry stressed that counter-terrorism efforts are guided by protecting civilian lives, safeguarding national unity, and upholding rights and dignity for all citizens, regardless of faith or ethnicity.
The strike represents a shift in US strategy, highlighting concerns over religious freedom and extremist violence in Nigeria.
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