INTERNATIONAL NEWS - The United States military carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (IS/ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, according to official statements from Washington and confirmations by Nigerian authorities.
The strikes, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, marked a notable escalation in American counter-terrorism involvement in West Africa.
President Trump announced the operation on his Truth Social platform, describing it as a “powerful and deadly strike” aimed at fighters he said were responsible for killing civilians in the region. He added that extremist violence would not go unanswered.
AFRICOM confirmation and coordination with Nigeria
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the strikes took place in Sokoto State and said the operation was conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government. AFRICOM stated that multiple Islamic State militants were killed, but did not disclose specific casualty figures or precise target locations.
Nigerian government response and security cooperation
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the strikes were the result of ongoing security cooperation and intelligence sharing between Abuja and Washington, describing the action as part of a broader joint effort to counter terrorism rather than a unilateral U.S. intervention.
U.S. defence officials also publicly acknowledged Nigeria’s support for the operation and highlighted the bilateral partnership that enabled the strikes.
Broader context
Security analysts note that Nigeria has faced a long-running and complex security crisis, with militant groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) carrying out attacks across the north and centre of the country. These attacks have affected both Christian and Muslim communities, and Nigerian officials have cautioned against framing the violence solely along religious lines.
The U.S. operation comes amid heightened international attention on Nigeria’s security situation and ongoing debate over how external military involvement may influence domestic stability and wider regional dynamics.
This article is based on reporting from Reuters, Sky News, U.S. Africa Command, official Nigerian government statements, and Daily Times Nigeria.
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