U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that American forces carried out airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria, saying the strikes targeted extremist fighters he accused of killing “primarily, innocent Christians.”
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria.
- The operation targeted extremists accused of attacking Christians.
- The Nigerian government has yet to formally confirm the strikes, and clarification is pending.
- Trump emphasized swift action to combat violence against Christians in the region.
Trump shared the announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the operation “powerful and deadly” and saying it was ordered “at my direction as Commander in Chief.” He described the militants as “ISIS terrorist scum” and claimed they had been attacking Christians “at levels not seen for many years, and even centuries.”
“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,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. Department of War executed “numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”
Claims and Context
The announcement follows earlier comments by Trump in November in which he said he had directed the Pentagon to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria if alleged attacks on Christians continued.
At the time, Trump threatened to cut U.S. aid and “go into that now disgraced country, guns‑a‑blazing” to eliminate extremist groups involved in violence against religious communities.
Nigeria’s government has not yet officially confirmed the strikes. Abuja has previously welcomed U.S. support in counterterrorism efforts, provided it respects Nigeria’s sovereignty. Officials are still assessing the situation, which remains fluid.
Details Still Limited
Independent confirmation of the strikes, their scale, targets, and outcomes has not yet been provided by U.S. military officials or Nigerian authorities. Reports so far are based mainly on Trump’s statements, and the news is still unfolding.
