The United States military conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria on Christmas Day, former President Donald Trump has confirmed.
Trump Confirms Christmas Day Military Action
In a statement, Donald Trump said the US carried out the offensive action on Thursday, 25th December. The move follows weeks of strong condemnation from the Trump administration regarding the militant group's alleged persecution of Christians in the region.
The strikes represent a significant escalation of direct US military involvement in Nigeria's ongoing conflict with Islamist insurgents. While US forces have provided intelligence and advisory support for years, direct kinetic action of this nature is less common.
Nigeria's Foreign Ministry Details Security Cooperation
Nigeria's foreign ministry has acknowledged the operation, framing it as part of a broader, ongoing security partnership with the United States. In a post on the social media platform X, the ministry outlined the collaboration.
The statement emphasised that the cooperation involves extensive intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the two nations, specifically aimed at dismantling militant networks operating within Nigeria's borders.
"This has led to precision hits on terrorist targets in Nigeria through airstrikes in the north-west," the ministry's post confirmed. This language suggests the Nigerian government was aware of and supported the US-led action.
Context and Potential Consequences
The decision to authorise strikes on a major religious holiday is notable and appears directly linked to Trump's recent rhetoric concerning the protection of Christian communities. Islamic State affiliates in West Africa have been repeatedly accused of carrying out deadly attacks on churches and kidnapping Christian clergy.
Analysts suggest this action could signal a more proactive US military posture in the Sahel region, where groups affiliated with both Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have made significant territorial gains in recent years.
The long-term implications for US-Nigeria relations and the regional security landscape remain to be seen. The operation underscores the persistent and potent threat posed by Islamist militancy in north-west Nigeria, an area already grappling with widespread violence and instability.
