Missiles on Christmas: Trump Orders 'Deadly' Strikes on ISIL Positions in Nigeria
President Trump ordered unprecedented Christmas Day strikes on ISIL-linked groups in Nigeria, citing the protection of Christians as the primary motive.
Missiles flew while much of the world celebrated. President Donald Trump announced on December 25, 2025, that the United States had launched "powerful and deadly" strikes against ISIL-affiliated groups in Nigeria. It's the first known direct U.S. military intervention in the conflict-racked nation, marking a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy.
A Mission to End 'Christian Genocide'
Trump revealed the operation via Truth Social, stating that the strikes targeted "ISIS Terrorist Scum" in northwest Nigeria. He framed the move as a defense against what he and top Republicans call a "Christian genocide." He warned that the strikes would continue if the alleged slaughter of Christians didn't stop. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed this on X, noting that the U.S. is "always ready."
The U.S. Africa Command reported that multiple terrorists were killed in the camps. While the Defense Department shared a video of a missile launch from a warship, they didn't specify the location. Analysts suggest the launch likely originated from the Gulf of Guinea. At least one town, Jabo in Sokoto State, was confirmed to have been hit, though locals and security experts questioned the choice of target due to a lack of known ISIL cells there.
Nigeria's Diplomatic Balancing Act
Nigeria's Foreign Ministry confirmed the strikes, describing them as part of an international cooperation framework. Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar told Al Jazeera that both parties cooperated closely. However, he pushed back against the religious narrative. "It is a regional conflict, it is not a Nigeria Christian-Muslim conflict," he stated, emphasizing that the security challenges affect all communities regardless of faith.
The timing and location are highly symbolic. Striking on Christmas Day in Sokoto—the heart of the historical Sokoto Caliphate—reinforces perceptions of a religiously motivated confrontation. The primary target is believed to be Lakurawa, a newly emerged armed group that began as a local defense force but has since been linked to ISIL offshoots in Mali and Niger.
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