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U.S. Confirms Christmas Day Strike on ISIS-Linked Militants in Nigeria

U.S. Africa Command says Nigerian authorities requested a Sokoto State strike, with scant detail released.

Overview

  • President Trump announced he directed the operation, which U.S. Africa Command said killed multiple ISIS-affiliated militants in northwest Nigeria.
  • Nigeria’s government acknowledged joint action and officials pushed back on framing the violence as primarily anti-Christian, stressing a broader security context.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Abuja for cooperation and said there is "more to come," indicating potential follow-up operations.
  • Public details remain limited, with no disclosure on platforms used, exact casualty figures, or the full scope of targets hit.
  • The strike followed weeks of stepped-up U.S.-Nigeria security coordination, including reported U.S. intelligence flights over large parts of Nigeria since late November.