US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had authorized strikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, describing them as “terrorist scum” responsible for attacks on Christian populations. The president declared his administration would not permit radical Islamic terrorism to flourish.
The military operation followed Trump’s warnings from October and November when he characterized the situation as an “existential threat” and potential “genocide” against Nigerian Christians. The president had made clear that continued violence would provoke American military intervention, a commitment now realized through strikes conducted on Christmas Day.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that the Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes” against militants who had been systematically killing innocent Christians. He highlighted American military capabilities and reaffirmed his zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. The president praised the precision and effectiveness of the operation.
Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the military action as part of established security cooperation with the United States. This collaboration involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat terrorism and violent extremism. Nigerian officials stressed that their government opposes terrorist violence against all religious communities.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed gratitude to Nigeria for enabling the operation and suggested that more strikes could follow. He noted that ISIS had learned a lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon released video footage showing projectiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while cooperating on security issues, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that characterizations of religious intolerance do not accurately represent the nation’s commitment to protecting all religious groups.