The United States military launched a series of strikes against Islamic State camps in Nigeria this Thursday, responding to attacks targeting Christians in the region, according to a statement from the former president. The operation, authorized by Donald Trump, involved a dozen Tomahawk missiles fired from a U.S. Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea.
“Tonight, under my leadership as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly attack against the scum ISIS terrorist in northwest Nigeria,” Trump posted on his network, Truth Social. He added, “I previously warned these terrorists that if they did not stop the massacre of Christians, all hell would break loose and tonight there was.”
The bombings, which Trump described as “numerous perfect attacks, as only the United States is capable of,” were led by the War Department. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth voiced his support for the attacks, stating on X, “The President was clear last month: the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. @DeptofWar Always ready, as ISIS found out tonight on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Government. Merry Christmas!”
U.S. Responds to Rising Violence Against Christians in Nigeria
The U.S. military conducted strikes in Nigeria targeting Islamic State affiliated groups following a surge in attacks against Christian communities.
- The U.S. launched strikes against ISIS camps in northwest Nigeria.
- The operation involved the firing of a dozen Tomahawk missiles.
- The attacks were in response to the ongoing violence against Christians in the region.
- Donald Trump announced the operation via his Truth Social network.
According to the United States Africa Command (Africom), the attacks in Sokoto State, near the border with Niger, resulted in “multiple” casualties. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Africom commander, stated, “US Africa Command is working with regional and Nigerian partners to increase cooperation in counterterrorism and efforts against threats to innocent lives.”
The U.S. government has been increasingly focused on neutralizing ISIS operations directly targeting the Christian community in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, and had previously ordered the Pentagon to prepare attack plans at Trump’s direction. A report from the International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) indicates that in the first 220 days of 2025, Islamic terrorists have murdered approximately 7,087 Christians and kidnapped another 7,800.
“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper. May God bless our Armed Forces and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead terrorists, of whom there will be many more if their massacre of Christians continues,” Trump concluded in his message on Truth Social.
