West Palm Beach, Florida — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that the United States carried out a military strike against Islamic State fighters in northwestern Nigeria, citing attacks on civilians and what he described as escalating persecution of Christians. In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the strike targeted ISIS militants who have been “viciously killing” Christians, framing the action as a direct response to extremist violence.
The U.S. Africa Command later confirmed that American forces conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State, saying multiple ISIS operatives were killed. Pentagon officials did not immediately release details about how the strike was conducted or the extent of damage on the ground.
Trump has spent weeks publicly criticizing Nigeria’s government, accusing it of failing to protect Christian communities. Nigerian officials have countered that extremist violence affects both Christians and Muslims and is driven by a mix of religious, ethnic, and resource-based conflicts. Nigeria’s population is roughly evenly split between Christians and Muslims, and the country has long faced instability from groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State affiliates.
The strike follows recent steps by the Trump administration to increase pressure on Nigeria, including visa restrictions for individuals linked to mass killings and the designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” under U.S. religious freedom law. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces remain prepared to confront extremist threats, emphasizing continued cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
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