Trump Unleashes US Firepower on ISIS in Nigeria, Sends Global Warning

US President Donald Trump announced on December 25, 2025, that he had ordered powerful military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in northwest Nigeria, describing the militants as “terrorist scum” and vowing that the United States would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper under his leadership. The strikes, conducted by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Christmas Day, targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State using more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea.

Trump made the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, stating, “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries!” He further warned that more actions would follow if the group continued its attacks, adding a festive note: “Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

The primary reason cited by Trump for the strikes was the group's alleged targeting and killing of innocent Christians in the region, which he described as occurring at unprecedented levels. This action followed months of warnings from Trump, including directives in late October and November 2025 to the Department of Defense to prepare for potential military intervention in Nigeria to protect Christian communities from what he called an “existential threat” to Christianity.

The US military emphasized that the operation was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities, with an initial assessment indicating that multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the targeted camps. Nigeria's Foreign Ministry confirmed the precision strikes on terrorist targets in the northwest, reiterating cooperation in combating terrorism while stressing that all citizens' rights are protected irrespective of faith or ethnicity.

The strikes occurred amid broader US military activity in 2025, including recent large-scale operations against ISIS in Syria, and reflect Trump's assertive approach to counterterrorism despite his campaign promises to limit foreign interventions. Analysts note that violence in northwest Nigeria involves a complex mix of armed banditry, kidnappings, and jihadist elements, with attacks affecting communities across faiths.

The US military's involvement marks a significant escalation in response to the reported persecution of Christians, though Nigerian officials have historically maintained that the security challenges are multifaceted and not exclusively targeted at one religious group. As details of the operation's full impact emerge, the incident underscores ongoing tensions and cooperation in the fight against extremism in the region.

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