Overview
- US Africa Command said Thursday-night strikes in Sokoto state killed multiple suspected Islamic State militants at the direction of President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Nigeria approved the operation and shared intelligence, with Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar detailing coordination and stressing the action targeted terrorism, not any religious group.
- Pentagon video appeared to show a Tomahawk cruise missile launched from a US Navy warship as part of the precision strikes.
- Trump framed the move as protecting Christians and warned of further action, while Hegseth said there could be “more to come” if attacks persist.
- Analysts note much of Nigeria’s violence stems from criminal and resource conflicts, and ACLED data show a small share is explicitly religious; some experts suggest the targets may include IS Sahel-linked fighters, a point not confirmed by officials.