Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces carried out deadly airstrikes against Islamic State elements in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day, warning that more attacks would follow if the group continues killing Christians.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the strikes were carried out by what he referred to as the “Department of War,” describing them as “numerous perfect strikes” against IS targets. He did not provide specific operational details.
Trump said he had previously warned the militants to stop what he described as the slaughter of Christians, adding that there would be serious consequences if the violence continued. He praised the US military for the operation and ended his message with a provocative Christmas greeting directed at the terrorists.
Confirming US involvement, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said in a post on X that it conducted the strike at the request of Nigerian authorities, adding that multiple ISIS terrorists were killed. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also praised the operation, expressing gratitude for the cooperation and support of the Nigerian government.
The strikes reportedly mark the first direct US military action in Nigeria under Trump and follow months of strong rhetoric from him, during which he accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians and described the situation as an “existential threat.” While some welcomed the renewed US attention, others warned that such framing could inflame religious tensions in a country with a history of sectarian violence.
Nigeria’s government and several independent analysts have consistently rejected the narrative that the country’s insecurity is driven by religious persecution, arguing instead that it stems from complex factors including terrorism, banditry, and criminal violence affecting communities across religious lines.
