President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that American forces had conducted strikes against ISIS targets in northwest Nigeria, targeting militants the president called “terrorist scum” attacking Christian communities. The operation demonstrated that Trump’s warnings about potential genocide were followed by action.
The military action came after Trump issued warnings in October and November characterizing violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide.” The president had made explicit threats of military intervention if attacks persisted, warnings that culminated in strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
Trump detailed that the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants engaged in the vicious killing of primarily innocent Christians. He emphasized American military superiority and his administration’s commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from flourishing. The president praised the operation’s precision.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of ongoing security cooperation with the United States. This collaboration involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials made clear that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation and suggested that more operations might follow. He noted that Trump had been clear about his intentions and that ISIS had learned this lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage showing projectiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while cooperating on security issues, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that characterizations of religious intolerance do not accurately represent the nation’s commitment to protecting all religious groups.