The United States of America has conducted a targeted airstrike against Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist camps in Sokoto State, northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in the country’s counterterrorism campaign.
According to U.S. officials, the operation was carried out at the direct authorization of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in close coordination with Nigerian authorities. The strike targeted what were described as active ISIS terrorist enclaves linked to ongoing attacks on civilians in the region.
Commander of U.S. Africa Command, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, said the operation underscores Washington’s commitment to working with Nigeria and other regional partners to combat violent extremism.
“U.S. Africa Command is working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to ongoing violence and threats against innocent lives,” Anderson stated. “Our goal is to protect Americans and to disrupt violent extremist organizations wherever they are.”
AFRICOM emphasized that the U.S. military employed extensive measures to minimize the risk of civilian casualties and noted that a full assessment of the strike’s outcome is ongoing.
President Donald J. Trump later confirmed the operation, describing it as a “powerful and deadly military strike” against ISIS targets in Nigeria. In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the strikes were ordered in response to what he characterized as sustained attacks on primarily innocent Christians in the region.
“The operation was conducted at my direction as Commander in Chief,” the president wrote, accusing ISIS militants of “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.”
Trump said he had previously warned the extremist group to halt attacks on Christians or face consequences, adding pointedly: “Tonight, there was.”
Describing the mission as “numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” the president reiterated that under his leadership, the U.S. would not allow what he termed “Radical Islamic Terrorism” to flourish. He also extended Christmas greetings to U.S. military personnel and warned that “many more” strikes would follow if attacks on Christians continued.
The airstrikes highlight the growing international concern over militant activities in northern Nigeria, where groups such as the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram have waged deadly insurgencies for more than a decade. The violence has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, affecting Christians and Muslims alike.
While reactions to the U.S. action are still unfolding, the development has reignited debate over Nigeria’s sovereignty and the appropriate balance between foreign military assistance and national control of security operations. Nigerian authorities have previously welcomed U.S. support in the fight against terrorism, provided it respects the country’s territorial integrity.
As of the time of reporting, the full military impact of the Sokoto strike, including confirmed militant casualties, has not been independently verified.