On Thursday (December 26), the US forces targeted ISIS establishments in northwest Nigeria. US President Donald Trump announced the powerful strike by referring to “terrorist scum” The reason behind the strike was to save Christian lives, as the Republican said that the group had been targeting Christians in the region.
In October and November, Republicans, the ruling party in the US, warned the West African nation of military intervention, as the Christians there face an “existential threat” that amounted to “genocide.” The strike followed that warning.
Strikes carried out against Radical Islamist Terrorism
Trump says, the strikes were carried out against terrorists who had been targeting and “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”.
“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…” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/AUUmTMABSs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2025
“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 Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” a part of Trump’s post on Truth Social read.
Trump also said he will “not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper” under his leadership.
Even after the Sydney attack, Trump asked the world to unite against Radical Islamist Terrorism. And recent strikes on ISIS targets in Syria and now in Nigeria show that he is seriously fighting radical Islam.
Also Read: Trump Asks World to Unite Against Radical Islamist Terrorism After Sydney Attack
Nigeria cooperated with the US in the Operation
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry stated that the strikes were conducted under ongoing security cooperation with the US. It includes intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to counter militant groups. In a post on X, the ministry confirmed that the operation was aimed at tackling the threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism, stressing that attacks against Christians, Muslims, or any other community are an affront to Nigeria’s core values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also posted on X, thanking the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support in carrying out the strikes. He reiterated that the US President had made it clear last month that the killing of innocent Christians must end, adding that the “Department of War is always ready,” and warning that ISIS had been targeted on Christmas, with more action to follow.
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 Pentagon later released a video showing at least one projectile being launched from a warship. Earlier, in a November post on Truth Social, Donald Trump had called for action against what he described as the “slaughter” in Nigeria and warned of possible military intervention if the violence continued.
Nigeria had previously rejected Trump’s characterisation of the situation, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu asserting that the constitution guarantees protection to citizens of all faiths. He said portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect the country’s reality and reaffirmed Abuja’s commitment to working with Washington to safeguard all communities. Nigeria’s population is broadly divided between a largely Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south.
