U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States military successfully carried out a series of targeted air strikes against terrorist strongholds in Sokoto State, Nigeria. The operation, which took place late Thursday night, focused on hideouts belonging to ISIS-affiliated militants. Making the announcement on Christmas Day, the President described the mission as the beginning of a broader campaign against extremist groups in the region.+1

This military action follows President Trump’s vocal condemnation in November 2025 regarding the killing of Christians in Nigeria’s Northwest and North-Central regions. At the time, the U.S. leader issued a stern warning that his administration would not remain a bystander to the violence, vowing to take direct action against the perpetrators.+1

While initial threats of unilateral action led to high-level diplomatic deliberations between Washington and Abuja, both governments had recently stated they were working toward a collaborative framework. However, the sudden Thursday night strike highlights a decisive shift toward active U.S. military involvement.+1

Taking to Truth Social to confirm the mission, President Trump stated that at his direction as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorists in Northwest Nigeria. He emphasized that under his leadership, there would be no place for radical Islamic terrorism to hide.

The strikes in the Sokoto forests represent a significant escalation in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in West Africa. While the President has promised more operations, the Nigerian government has acknowledged the strikes as part of an ongoing security cooperation involving intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to target militant groups.