The United States (US) has carried out an air strike against Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria, specifically Sokoto State, marking a sharp escalation weeks after US President Donald Trump publicly threatened military action over alleged killings of Christians in the country.

Trump announced the strike late Thursday on Christmas day, December 25, 2025, saying it was carried out on his orders as commander in chief. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he described the operation as a “powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS fighters, whom he accused of “targeting and viciously” killing “primarily, innocent Christians.”

“I have previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump said.

.@POTUS “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… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025

The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation, saying the air strike was conducted in northwest Nigeria and had killed “multiple ISIS terrorists.” AFRICOM initially said the strike was carried out “at the request of Nigerian authorities,” but later said it was only “in coordination with Nigerian authorities.”

At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State.

— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) December 26, 2025

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also acknowledged the operation, thanking the Nigerian government for its “support and cooperation” and warning that there could be “more to come,” without providing further details.

The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.

The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…

Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.

Merry Christmas! https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025

The strike followed weeks of heightened tension between the US and Nigerian governments after Trump accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians and ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for possible military action. His comments, which included warnings that the US could act decisively if the violence did not stop, drew strong reactions within Nigeria and from analysts who cautioned against oversimplifying the country’s security crisis.

Nigeria’s government had firmly rejected Trump’s claims of targeted Christian persecution, maintaining that armed groups attack both Muslim and Christian communities and that the violence reflects a complex mix of terrorism, banditry and communal conflict rather than a religiously motivated campaign.

Following Trump’s announcement of the strike, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the country is engaged in “structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States of America,” to address the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry did not provide operational details but signalled that the action fell within existing security collaboration.

pic.twitter.com/2ZKH5tBoIm

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) December 26, 2025

The US operation represents a transition from Trump’s sharp rhetoric to direct military action, even as debate continues over the framing of Nigeria’s violence and the implications of foreign military involvement.

The strike comes after multiple attacks on churches and a suicide bombing attack at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, in recent weeks.