President Donald Trump disclosed on Thursday that he had ordered military strikes against ISIS positions in northwest Nigeria, specifically targeting militants responsible for attacks on Christian populations. The announcement came on Christmas Day, a symbolically significant timing given the religious nature of the conflict.
The strikes represent the culmination of Trump’s repeated warnings to terrorist groups operating in Nigeria. The president had previously cautioned in October and November that continued violence against Christians would prompt American military intervention. Trump characterized the situation as an “existential threat” amounting to “genocide” against Christian communities in the West African nation.
In his announcement, Trump detailed that the Department of War had executed multiple precision strikes against those who had been “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” The president emphasized America’s unique military capabilities and his administration’s zero-tolerance policy toward radical Islamic terrorism. He pledged that such extremism would not flourish during his presidency.
Nigerian authorities confirmed their participation in the operation, with the Foreign Ministry describing it as part of ongoing bilateral security cooperation. The collaboration between the two nations includes shared intelligence and coordinated strategies to combat militant groups. Nigerian officials emphasized that their government opposes terrorism targeting any religious group, whether Christian or Muslim, viewing such violence as contrary to national values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly thanked Nigeria for its support in the operation and indicated that further strikes might be forthcoming. The Pentagon released video documentation of the strikes, showing weaponry being launched from naval vessels. Despite this cooperation, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed has previously pushed back against characterizations of Nigeria as religiously intolerant, asserting that the constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country maintains its commitment to working with the US while preserving religious freedom.
Trump Authorizes Christmas Strikes on ISIS Targets Terrorizing Nigerian Christians
