Trump Orders Christmas Day Airstrikes on ISIS in Nigeria Amid Rising Christian Persecution Fears
In a bold escalation of U.S. counterterrorism efforts in West Africa, President Donald Trump authorized airstrikes on Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The operation, conducted at the request of the Nigerian government, targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State and marked a significant U.S. intervention in the region’s long-simmering jihadist insurgency.[1][2]
Details of the Strikes
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that the strikes killed multiple militants in the Bauni forest area of Tangaza, Sokoto State. According to Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi, the operation unfolded between 00:12 and 01:30 WAT on December 26 local time. It involved over a dozen Tomahawk missiles launched from a U.S. Navy warship—likely the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Paul Ignatius—positioned in the Gulf of Guinea, alongside 16 munitions from MQ-9 Reaper drones targeting fighters infiltrating from the Sahel region.[1]
President Trump announced the strikes on his Truth Social platform, calling them “powerful and deadly” and accusing the militants of “viciously killing … primarily innocent Christians.” He framed the timing as a deliberate Christmas message to jihadist groups preying on religious minorities.[2][3]
Background and Prelude to Action
The strikes stem from months of escalating violence in northern Nigeria. In November 2025, AFRICOM drafted plans for the operation amid Trump’s threats to cut U.S. foreign aid unless Nigeria cracked down harder on ISIS and violence against Christians. Just days before the strikes, an Islamist terrorist attacked a Catholic church, killing two, and ISIS splinter groups kidnapped 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in Papiri.[1]
Nigeria has battled Boko Haram and ISIS West Africa Province (ISWAP) for over a decade, with the jihadists controlling swathes of territory in the northeast and northwest. The Sahel region’s instability, including coups in neighboring Niger and Mali, has allowed militants to expand operations, infiltrating Nigeria from porous borders.[1][3]
Nigerian Government Response
The Nigerian government welcomed the U.S. action, describing it as a joint operation based on intelligence shared with American forces. “It is a joint operation, and it is not targeting any religion,” a Nigerian official stated, emphasizing coordination with AFRICOM.[3] Minister Malagi praised the precision strikes, noting they disrupted two prominent IS sites.[1]
However, a YouTube report highlighted Nigeria’s “first reaction” as stunning Trump, though specifics remain unclear amid rapid developments.[2]
U.S. Strategic Shift Under Trump
Trump’s decision inserts the U.S. deeper into Nigeria’s turmoil, reversing a more hands-off approach under previous administrations. Plans for the strikes were proposed in November 2025, drawing criticism from Judd Devermont, former national security advisor for African affairs under President Joe Biden. Devermont argued that Nigeria’s instability “will not be reversed overnight by an influx of U.S. resources.”[1]
During a PBS NewsHour segment, former Ambassador J. Peter Pham, Trump’s special envoy for the Sahel in his first term, discussed the strikes’ implications. Pham noted that public attention to anti-Christian violence has forced Nigeria to act more decisively.[3]
“Let us give a Christmas present.” – President Trump, on delaying strikes until December 25.[3]
Broader Implications for West Africa
The operation underscores growing U.S. concerns over the Sahel’s jihadist threat, where ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates exploit governance vacuums post-coups. Sokoto State, in Nigeria’s northwest, has seen rising ISWAP activity, including kidnappings and ambushes on security forces. The strikes also highlight enhanced U.S.-Nigeria security ties, including intelligence sharing.[2]
Trump warned of further action if violence persists, potentially signaling more drone and missile operations. Analysts warn that while tactically successful, such strikes may not address root causes like poverty, corruption, and ethnic tensions fueling extremism.[1]
International Reactions
- Nigeria: Praised the strikes as collaborative and effective.[1][3]
- U.S. Experts: Mixed views; some see it as necessary deterrence, others question long-term efficacy.[1]
- Regional Powers: No major condemnations yet, but Sahel nations eye U.S. involvement warily amid French withdrawal.[3]
Humanitarian Concerns
While AFRICOM reported no civilian casualties, the strikes occurred near populated areas, raising fears of collateral damage in future operations. The recent school kidnapping underscores the dire security situation for Nigeria’s Christian communities in the north, where militants impose harsh sharia rule.[1]
This intervention could bolster U.S. credibility in counterterrorism but risks entangling America in another protracted African conflict. As Trump eyes his administration’s legacy, Nigeria’s jihadist front remains a litmus test for his “America First” foreign policy’s muscular turn.[2]
The Pentagon has not released casualty figures beyond “multiple militants killed,” and monitoring groups like the SITE Intelligence Group are tracking ISIS reactions. Updates are expected as debris analysis and satellite imagery emerge.