President Donald Trump said the United States launched airstrikes in northwest Nigeria on Christmas night targeting ISIS militants he accused of carrying out widespread killings of Christians, describing the operation as decisive and warning that additional military action would follow if the violence does not stop.
“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 said Thursday in a statement posted to 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 Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing,” he added.
“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” Trump continued.
“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.”
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025
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U.S. Africa Command confirmed the strikes later Thursday night, stating that the operation was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities. In a post on X, AFRICOM said the strikes occurred on Dec. 25, 2025.
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the command said.
At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State.
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) December 26, 2025
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz responded publicly after news of the strikes broke, framing the action as support for Christians facing violence in the region.
“Merry Christmas to the Christians in Nigeria and around the world who know tonight that the President of the United States will fight for them,” Waltz wrote in a post on X.
Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas also praised the operation and the administration’s approach to counterterrorism.
“I commend President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our brave troops for these strikes against bloodthirsty ISIS savages who are not only persecuting Christians, but also have killed many Americans,” Cotton said Thursday.
The Christmas night operation followed warnings issued by Trump last month, when he said the United States would respond forcefully if the killings of Christians in Nigeria continued.
Last month, Trump said he would “do things in Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and threatened to “go into that now disgraced country guns-a-blazing.”
Those remarks came amid reports of escalating violence targeting Christian communities across multiple regions of the country.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the airstrikes carried out on Christmas were the fulfillment of that warning.
“The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth said in a post on X.
“The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…”
“Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation,” he added.
“Merry Christmas!”
The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.
The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…
Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.
Merry Christmas! https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025
The military action comes as part of a broader response by the Trump administration to what it describes as a surge in anti-Christian violence in Nigeria.
Nearly a month after Trump’s warning, the administration implemented a new visa-restriction policy aimed at individuals accused of orchestrating or supporting religious violence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the policy, authorized under the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows the State Department to deny visas to individuals “who have directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom.”
In some cases, immediate family members may also face visa restrictions.
“The United States is taking decisive action in response to the mass killings and violence against Christians by radical Islamic terrorists, Fulani ethnic militias, and other violent actors in Nigeria and beyond,” Rubio said in a statement announcing the policy.
The administration’s actions followed a series of high-profile attacks on Christian institutions in Nigeria.
Last month, gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two people and kidnapping dozens. The 38 abducted worshipers were released nearly a week later.
Days after that attack, armed assailants raided St. Mary’s School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff.
School officials said 50 students between the ages of 10 and 18 escaped in the days that followed, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive.
The wave of violence led Trump to designate Nigeria a “country of particular concern,” a classification the Nigerian government has disputed.
“I’m really angry about it,” Trump told Fox News Radio last month.
“What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.”
Rubio echoed that position earlier this month, saying, “As President Trump made clear, the ‘United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria and numerous other countries.’”
JUST IN: President Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth deliver a STARK WARNING to jihadist terrorists in Nigeria: More strikes are coming if they DON’T stop slaughtering innocent Christians!
NewsNation: “We’ve confirmed with a Pentagon official that the Nigerian government was… pic.twitter.com/mkX3sDpfxV
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 26, 2025
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