US Launches Deadly Airstrike Against ISIL Fighters in Nigeria

On December 25, 2025, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States had launched a powerful airstrike targeting ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria. Trump, using his Truth Social platform, confirmed the strike was carried out at his direction, claiming it was in response to the group’s violent actions against predominantly Christian communities.

Trump emphasized that the ISIL fighters had been responsible for "slaughtering Christians" at unprecedented levels and reiterated his earlier warnings to terrorists about facing consequences. The airstrike, conducted by US Africa Command (AFRICOM) at the request of Nigerian authorities, resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS terrorists, according to AFRICOM's post on social media.

The US military's actions come after claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria, which Trump had highlighted during his tenure. The Nigerian government, however, dismissed these claims, insisting that armed groups target both Muslim and Christian communities in the country.

Following the airstrike, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for the security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, in combating terrorism. However, local reports from Sokoto State indicate that the strike did not cause casualties, despite circulating social media images of missile fragments.

This military action comes in the wake of increased tensions regarding the protection of religious minorities in Nigeria, with the Trump administration's stance resonating particularly well with the US Christian evangelical base.