The United States carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria on December twenty five, acting on long-standing concerns raised by President Donald Trump about extremist violence targeting Christian communities.

President Trump announced the operation on Christmas night, describing the strikes as powerful and deadly and stating they were aimed at militants responsible for sustained attacks on Christian civilians.

The action marked a notable escalation in United States engagement in West Africa, underscoring Washington’s resolve to confront jihadist threats directly when local communities face systematic violence.

United States Africa Command confirmed that the strikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian security forces in Sokoto State, with several Islamic State fighters reportedly killed.

Officials on both sides said the operation relied on shared intelligence and reflected deepening counterterrorism cooperation between Washington and Abuja.

Nigerian authorities reiterated that extremist violence affects citizens of all faiths, while acknowledging the particular brutality of recent attacks attributed to Islamic State factions operating in the region.

President Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to protect Christian communities would prompt decisive action, previously placing Nigeria under heightened scrutiny for religious freedom concerns.

In announcing the strikes, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to defending persecuted religious groups and signalled that further military measures remain possible if extremist violence continues.

Nigerian officials welcomed continued security cooperation, while stressing that long-term stability will require sustained efforts against insurgent networks exploiting local conflicts.