Trump Delivers on Threat: Military Strikes ISIS in Northwest Nigeria

US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had authorized military strikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, describing them as “terrorist scum” responsible for systematic attacks on Christian populations. The operation demonstrated that the president’s previous threats were not empty rhetoric.
The military action came after Trump issued warnings in October and November characterizing the situation as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had explicitly warned that failure to stop the violence would result in severe consequences, a promise fulfilled through strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
According to Trump’s statement, the Department of War executed multiple precision strikes against militants who had been viciously killing innocent Christians. He emphasized that only the United States possesses the capability to conduct such operations and reaffirmed his stance against radical Islamic terrorism. The president praised the operation’s effectiveness.
The Nigerian Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes as part of established security cooperation with the United States. This partnership involves intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to combat terrorism and violent extremism. Nigerian officials made clear that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed appreciation for Nigerian cooperation in enabling the strikes. He suggested that more operations might follow, noting that ISIS had learned a lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage showing weaponry being deployed from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while participating in the security cooperation, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that characterizations of religious intolerance do not reflect the country’s actual commitment to protecting all religious groups.