US Strikes ISIS In Nigeria On Christmas Day, Citing Attacks On Christians

New Delhi: On Christmas night, the US carried out military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwest Nigeria. President Donald Trump announced the action late Thursday, saying the attacks were ordered because the group was "targeting and viciously killing" Christians in the region. 

Why did the US act now?

Trump has spent weeks criticising Nigeria's government for what he called its failure to stop violence against Christians by Islamist extremists. In November, he even warned that the US might take direct action if the violence continued. 

What Donald Trump said?

In a social media post, the president Donald Trump said the strikes were "powerful and deadly" and carried out at his direction as commander-in-chief. He vowed that the US would not allow "radical Islamic terrorism to prosper."

The Pentagon said the operation focused on ISIS-linked militants in northwest Nigeria.

"The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing . Under my leadership, our country will not radical Islamic terrorism to prosper," the statement read. 

"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians..." - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/AUUmTMABSs

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 26, 2025

Trump concluded the post by saying, "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."