The U.S. launched a strike against ISIS terrorist camps in northwest Nigeria late Christmas Day in response to ongoing Christian persecution in the country, President Donald Trump announced Dec. 25.
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“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,” he continued, adding that the Department of War carried out “numerous perfect strikes.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 25, 2025
According to U.S. Africa Command, the strike killed multiple ISIS terrorists in their camps. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, the commander of U.S. Africa Command, stated in the news release that the command is “working with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation efforts related to on-going violence and threats against innocent lives.”
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Dec. 26, saying that the Nigerian government cooperated with the U.S. to address “the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism,” which led to “precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria.”
“Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the Ministry added.
Trump had warned in November that the U.S. was prepared for “possible action” against ISIS if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians from persecution. As Zeale has previously reported, Islamic jihadists regularly threaten thousands of Nigerian Christians’ homes, churches, and lives, a situation that prompted Trump to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern Oct. 31.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth applauded the strike in a post on X Dec. 25, stating, “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come…”