United States military forces have carried out a series of lethal airstrikes targeting Islamic State terrorists operating in northwestern Nigeria. The action was confirmed directly by US President Donald Trump in a social media post on Christmas Day.
Trump's Christmas Declaration on Truth Social
On the evening of 26 December 2025, President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce the operation. He stated that US forces conducted what he described as "deadly strikes" against militants affiliated with the Islamic State in the northwestern region of Nigeria.
In his post, Trump issued a stark warning to the terrorist group, linking the military action directly to their violent campaigns against Christian communities. "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," the President wrote.
Details of the Military Operation
Trump credited the Department of War with the execution of the mission. He claimed the department "executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing." The President emphasized that under his leadership, the United States would not permit the expansion of radical Islamic terrorism.
While specific details regarding the number of casualties, exact locations within northwestern Nigeria, or the types of aircraft used were not immediately provided, the announcement marks a significant and direct intervention by American forces in Nigeria's ongoing security crisis.
A Stern Warning and a Ironic Christmas Wish
The US leader concluded his message with a characteristically provocative Christmas greeting. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas, "including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues." This statement underscores the conditional nature of the US action, framing it as a direct response to the persecution of a religious group.
This development represents a major escalation in international involvement in Nigeria's fight against insurgency. The northwestern region has been plagued by violence from multiple armed groups, including bandits and jihadist factions linked to both Islamic State and Boko Haram. The explicit mention of protecting Christians adds a complex religious dimension to the security intervention.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the US strikes on its sovereign territory. The long-term implications for US-Nigeria relations, regional security strategy, and the safety of vulnerable communities remain to be seen as more details emerge.
