In a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in West Africa, American forces launched a major strike against Islamic State (IS) militants in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day. The action, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, has ignited a diplomatic dispute with the Nigerian government and drawn concern from regional bodies.
Trump Orders "Powerful and Deadly" Strike
On Thursday, December 25, 2025, President Donald Trump announced via his social media platform, Truth Social, that he had directed a military operation. He described the U.S. action as a "powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria." Trump justified the move by alleging the group had been targeting and killing innocent Christians "at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries."
He further stated that the "Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes" and vowed that the United States would not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper. This strike follows a similar U.S. operation about a week prior, which hit over 70 suspected IS-linked targets in Syria in retaliation for the deaths of two American service members and an interpreter.
Nigeria and ECOWAS Reject Trump's Claims
The Nigerian government responded swiftly and firmly, rejecting President Trump's characterization of the situation. Officials stated that his accusations "do not reflect the situation on the ground" and reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to fighting terrorism within its borders. This rejection stems from a growing tension that began in late October.
On October 31, Trump had declared Nigeria a "country of particular concern," claiming on Truth Social that thousands of Christians were being killed by radical Islamists. He later accused the Nigerian government of insufficient action. By November 1, his rhetoric escalated to a threat, suggesting U.S. forces "may very well go into" Nigeria to "completely wipe out" the terrorists.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) subsequently backed Nigeria, describing Trump's allegations that attacks were specifically targeted at Christians as "false and dangerous." The bloc expressed solidarity with Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with over 230 million people, which is roughly evenly split between Muslims and Christians.
Background of the Islamist Threat in Nigeria
The conflict has deep roots in Nigeria's complex social and religious landscape. According to the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, violence against Christians has escalated in the predominantly Muslim north over the past decade. This surge is linked to the expansion of Islamist extremist groups like Boko Haram.
Boko Haram was founded in northeastern Nigeria in 2002. In a pivotal 2015 move, the group pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State, rebranding itself as the Islamic State in the West African Province (ISWAP). Beginning in 2021, the group consolidated control over parts of northeastern Nigeria and neighboring Niger, presenting a persistent regional security challenge.
The recent U.S. military strike represents a direct international intervention into this long-standing conflict, potentially altering the dynamics of counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel region and testing diplomatic relations between the United States and one of Africa's leading powers.
