Trump says US hit Daesh in Nigeria after attacks targeting Christians

President Donald Trump said on Thursday night that the United States had carried out a “powerful and deadly” strike against Daesh militants in Nigeria, following weeks of criticism of the Nigerian government over alleged persecution of Christians.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against Daesh terrorist scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians,” Trump wrote on his social media platform on Christmas night.

Trump did not provide details on how the strike was conducted or its impact. However, US Africa Command later said it had “conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Soboto State, killing multiple Daesh terrorists.”

“Lethal strikes against Daesh demonstrate the strength of our military and our commitment to eliminating terrorist threats against Americans at home and abroad,” AFRICOM said in a post on X. The US Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Nigeria’s government has previously rejected Trump’s claims, saying extremist violence affects people of multiple faiths, not just Christians. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country with about 220 million people, is almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.

Last month, Trump said he had ordered the Pentagon to begin planning potential military action in Nigeria over alleged Christian persecution. The US has also announced visa restrictions on Nigerians and their family members linked to mass killings and violence against Christians, and recently designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

“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,” Trump wrote, adding that US forces had carried out “numerous perfect strikes.”

Nigeria has long faced insecurity from multiple sources, including Boko Haram and Daesh-linked factions, as well as violence driven by farmer-herder conflicts, communal rivalries, ethnic clashes and secessionist movements. Attacks have targeted both Christians and Muslims.

The US military footprint in Africa has declined in recent years, with partnerships scaled back or ended, meaning any expanded intervention in Nigeria would likely require forces drawn from elsewhere.

Despite this, Trump has continued to apply pressure amid a recent spate of attacks on schools and churches. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X that the president had been clear that “the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end.”

“Our forces are always ready, so Daesh found out tonight — on Christmas,” Hegseth wrote, adding, “Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”