US Launches Coordinated Airstrikes on ISIS Targets in Northwest Nigeria

The United States has carried out a series of airstrikes on Islamic State–affiliated militants in northwest Nigeria, marking a rare direct American military intervention in the West African nation’s long‑running battle against extremist violence. The operation, conducted on Christmas Day, targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State and was carried out at the request of the Nigerian government, according to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and Nigerian officials.

President Donald Trump announced the strikes late Thursday, describing them as “powerful and deadly” and aimed at militants he accused of orchestrating escalating attacks on Christian communities in the region. In a statement posted on his social media platform, Trump said the militants had been “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years,” adding that the U.S. response was intended to halt what he called a worsening campaign of sectarian violence.

AFRICOM confirmed that multiple ISIS fighters were killed in the precision strikes and reported no civilian casualties in its initial assessment. The command said the operation was conducted “in coordination with Nigerian authorities,” underscoring what both governments described as deepening security cooperation amid a surge in extremist activity across northern Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the joint operation and emphasized that the strikes were carried out with Abuja’s approval. Officials, however, pushed back on Trump’s assertion that Christians were being uniquely targeted, noting that armed groups in the region have attacked both Muslim and Christian communities over the past decade.

The airstrikes come amid renewed violence across northern Nigeria. Just days earlier, a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives inside a mosque in Maiduguri, killing at least five worshippers and injuring dozens more during evening prayers. No group has claimed responsibility, but both Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have conducted similar attacks in the past.

Security analysts say the U.S. intervention represents a significant escalation in Washington’s engagement in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts. While the U.S. has long provided intelligence and training support, direct airstrikes inside the country have been exceedingly rare.

A senior Nigerian presidential adviser said Abuja and Washington remain “aligned in the fight against terrorism” and that further cooperation is expected as extremist groups continue to exploit porous borders and local grievances to expand their influence.

U.S. officials have not ruled out additional strikes. Trump’s defense secretary warned that “there is more to come” if ISIS‑linked groups continue attacks across the region.

The Nigerian government has not yet released casualty figures from the operation, and independent verification remains limited due to restricted access to the affected areas.

As both nations assess the aftermath of the strikes, residents in the northwest remain on edge, bracing for potential retaliatory attacks from extremist factions that have shown resilience despite years of military pressure.