U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria signal major shift in West African security

December 27, 2025

United States President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he ordered a “powerful and deadly” military strike against Islamic State militants in Northwest Nigeria. The operation, executed on Christmas Day, targeted what the president described as “ISIS Terrorist Scum” responsible for the persecution of Christians. Trump stated on Truth Social that he had previously warned these groups to “stop the slaughtering of Christians” or face “hell to pay.” He characterised the mission as a series of “numerous perfect strikes” carried out by the “Department of War.” In his concluding remarks, Trump wrote: “Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper. May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”