Trump Orders Christmas Strikes: US Military Hits ISIS in Northwest Nigeria

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that American forces had conducted military strikes against ISIS positions in northwest Nigeria, targeting militants he called “terrorist scum” attacking Christian populations. The announcement came on Christmas Day, carrying significant symbolic meaning for the religiously motivated operation.
The strikes represented the fulfillment of Trump’s earlier warnings from October and November when he characterized violence against Nigerian Christians as an “existential threat” constituting potential “genocide.” The president had explicitly threatened military intervention if attacks continued, setting the stage for Thursday’s military action.
In his statement, Trump emphasized that the strikes targeted militants who had been systematically and viciously killing innocent Christians. He credited the Department of War with executing precise strikes that showcased American military capabilities. The president reaffirmed his commitment to preventing radical Islamic terrorism from flourishing under his administration.
The Nigerian government acknowledged the strikes through its Foreign Ministry, describing them as part of established security cooperation with the United States. This partnership involves intelligence sharing and strategic planning to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the region. Nigerian officials made clear that terrorist violence against any religious community contradicts the nation’s core values.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for enabling the operation and suggested that more strikes could follow. He noted that Trump had been clear about his intentions and that ISIS had learned this lesson on Christmas. The Pentagon provided video evidence of the strikes showing missiles launching from warships. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed, while cooperating on security issues, has emphasized that Nigeria’s constitution protects citizens of all faiths and that the country maintains its commitment to religious freedom despite ongoing security challenges.