The United States has launched a major military strike in Nigeria targeting Islamic State fighters, President Donald Trump announced. In a late-night statement on social media, Trump said he had ordered American forces to conduct “a powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS terrorists operating in northwest Nigeria.
US Africa Command later confirmed the operation, stating that the attack was carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS fighters. The Command described the strike as part of ongoing cooperation between Washington and Abuja in combating extremist groups in the region.
Trump said the action followed repeated warnings to ISIS militants over their violent campaign, particularly attacks against Christian communities in Nigeria. He noted that extremist groups had been responsible for widespread killings at a scale “not seen for many years, and even centuries.”
“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria,” Trump said. “These terrorists have been viciously killing innocent Christians. I warned them there would be consequences if they continued — and tonight, there were.”
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the President’s remarks, warning that further strikes could follow if the militants do not halt their attacks. “There will be more to come if these groups continue targeting innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere,” he said.
However, the White House has not yet released additional operational details, including how many militants were killed, the timing of the strike, or the type of weapons used.
The strike marks a significant moment in US military engagement in Africa and underscores Washington’s ongoing concern over the rise of ISIS-linked terror groups in Nigeria.