The United States has launched coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State fighters in Nigeria, targeting extremist hideouts in Sokoto State during a joint operation with Nigerian forces.
President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes late Thursday, describing them as “powerful and deadly” and aimed at dismantling Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) elements operating in north-western Nigeria.
According to Trump, the US military executed “numerous perfect strikes” against the terrorist group, which he accused of targeting civilians, including Christians. The US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, said the operation was conducted with the support and cooperation of the Nigerian government.
US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed that the strikes were carried out in coordination with Nigerian security forces, specifically in Sokoto State. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, also described the operation as a joint effort between both countries.
Tuggar told the BBC that further military action could occur depending on decisions taken by the leadership of both nations, suggesting that continued cooperation remains on the table.
In November, President Trump had ordered the US military to prepare for possible operations in Nigeria to combat Islamist militant groups. At the time, the Nigerian government emphasized that any foreign military action must respect Nigeria’s sovereignty and be jointly executed.
Presidential adviser Daniel Bwala said Nigeria welcomed international assistance in tackling terrorism but stressed that extremist groups do not target any single religion. He noted that victims of jihadist violence include Christians, Muslims, and people of other beliefs.
President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly insisted that Nigeria remains religiously tolerant and that security challenges affect citizens across faiths and regions.
Trump recently designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” citing alleged threats to Christians. However, multiple conflict-monitoring organizations, including the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), say there is no evidence that Christians are disproportionately targeted. Data indicates that most victims of jihadist violence in Nigeria over the past decade have been Muslims.
Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have killed thousands, particularly in Nigeria’s northeast. In central Nigeria, deadly clashes between herders and farming communities—often framed along religious lines—have also claimed many lives, though human rights groups say atrocities have occurred on all sides.
The latest strikes in Nigeria come just days after the US carried out a large-scale military operation against Islamic State targets in Syria, where more than 70 locations were hit using fighter jets, helicopters, and artillery.
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