Overview
- U.S. Navy cruise missiles fired from the Gulf of Guinea struck two militant camps in Sokoto on the night of Dec. 25–26, according to official statements and on-the-record announcements.
- Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry said the action was coordinated with Abuja and drew on Nigerian intelligence, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar describing pre‑strike calls with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- The targets were described as ISIS affiliates active in the northwest, locally known as Lakurawa or tied to the Islamic State’s Sahel branch, which are distinct from Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast.
- Casualty figures and the precise operational effects remain unclear, while the Pentagon has not ruled out additional operations.
- Reporting identifies the destroyer Paul Ignatius of U.S. Navy Task Force 65 as the launch platform, and analysts say the move signals a wider U.S. posture in West Africa that also speaks to regional stability and great‑power competition.