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President Trump announced Thursday that the US military hit ISIS terrorists in Nigeria targeting Christians with “numerous” deadly airstrikes.

“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, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“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 president continued.


  President Trump announced military strikes in northwest Nigeria on Thursday, Christmas Day. AFP via Getty Images President Trump announced military strikes in northwest Nigeria on Thursday, Christmas Day. AFP via Getty Images

  The White House posted an unclassified clip showing a missile launch targeting ISIS in Nigeria Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. White House The White House posted an unclassified clip showing a missile launch targeting ISIS in Nigeria Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. White House

“The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

US Africa Command said the Christmas Day strike was carried out in Sokoto state and initial assessments indicate “multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in the ISIS camps.”

The Department of War shared unclassified footage of a missile being launched from the deck of a military vessel after Trump announced the operation. 


  Local residents hold metal debris in Jabo, Nigeria, on Friday. AP Local residents hold metal debris in Jabo, Nigeria, on Friday. AP

The Pentagon coordinated with the Nigerian government ahead of the strikes.

“The Department of War worked with the government of Nigeria to carry out these strikes,” a War Department official told The Post.

“These strikes were approved by the government of Nigeria.” 


  The Pentagon coordinated with the Nigerian government ahead of the strikes, which President Bola Tinubu has yet to comment on. Getty Images The Pentagon coordinated with the Nigerian government ahead of the strikes, which President Bola Tinubu has yet to comment on. Getty Images

Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the strike was carried out as part of ongoing security cooperation with the US, which includes the exchange of intelligence and strategic coordination to take out militant groups.

“This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria by air strikes in the North West,” the ministry said in a statement

War Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that Trump “was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.” 

“The [Department of War] is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…” Hegseth wrote on X

“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” he added. “Merry Christmas!”

The US military had reportedly been conducting intelligence-gathering flights over large swaths of Nigeria since late last month, according to Reuters.


  Trump said he had made warnings and said, “there would be hell to pay.” REUTERS Trump said he had made warnings and said, “there would be hell to pay.” REUTERS

The airstrikes come one day after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri, killing five people and injuring dozens, in a suspected suicide attack. 

The African nation has been plagued by violence carried out by multiple armed militant groups, including Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province. 


  It is unknown how many casualties there were during the strikes. via REUTERS It is unknown how many casualties there were during the strikes. via REUTERS

  The airstrikes occurred one day after a bomb destroyed a mosque in Nigeria, killing 5 people and injuring more than a dozen individuals. AP The airstrikes occurred one day after a bomb destroyed a mosque in Nigeria, killing 5 people and injuring more than a dozen individuals. AP

  Human rights group Intersociety reports that over 7,000 Christians have been massacred in Nigeria this year.
 Human rights group Intersociety reports that over 7,000 Christians have been massacred in Nigeria this year.

Last month, Trump warned that he would cut off US aid to Nigeria and go into the country “guns-a-blazing” if the government didn’t do more to stop the Islamic extremists from killing Christians.

The president noted that he had instructed the War Department to “prepare for possible action” against “terrorist thugs” in Nigeria in his Nov. 1 Truth Social post. 

More than 7,000 Christians have been massacred in Nigeria this year, according to the human rights group Intersociety.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu called for peace, “especially between individuals of differing religious beliefs,” in a Christmas message posted on X.

“I stand committed to doing everything within my power to enshrine religious freedom in Nigeria and to protect Christians, Muslims, and all Nigerians from violence,” Tinubu added. 

Last week, the Trump administration recalled more than two dozen ambassadors from posts around the world, including Nigeria and several other African countries, appointed by former President Joe Biden. 

Since taking office in January, Trump has conducted military strikes in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

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