The United States launched powerful strikes against ISIS in Northwest Nigeria, a decisive action President Trump announced was directed at terrorists targeting and viciously killing Christians in the region, as per The Hill. This is huge news, especially since the president has been signaling this kind of military action for months.
You know President Trump doesn’t pull punches, but his post on Truth Social announcing the strike was next-level intense. He confirmed that he directed the action as Commander in Chief against what he called “ISIS Terrorist Scum.” The terrorists have been targeting and “viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” he wrote.
He was quick to point out that he had warned these groups before. He wrote that he previously told the terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, “there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.” He also declared that the strikes were “perfect” and were executed by the “Department of War,” which is a throwback term you don’t hear often. He wished “MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”
The most chilling part of his statement, though, was his sign-off
The strikes were carried out at the request of the Nigerian authorities. U.S. Africa Command Africom confirmed that they conducted the strike in Soboto State, killing multiple “ISIS terrorists.” Africom’s commander, Gen. Dagvin Anderson, made it clear that the U.S. military is working closely with Nigerian and regional partners to increase counterterrorism cooperation, especially concerning threats against innocent lives.
This action wasn’t entirely a surprise if you’ve been following the situation. In November, President Trump labeled the African nation a “country of particular concern” because of the widespread religious violence there and brought Nicki Minaj to speak about the injustices against Christians in Nigeria. That designation outlines a plan for the president to consult with the designated government and draft a foreign policy action plan, which must be implemented within 90 days.
The Trump administration began conducting daily surveillance flights over Nigeria under the direction of Nigerian National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Defense Secretary Hegseth immediately backed the move, writing on X that the president was clear last month that the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. Hegseth said the “@DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!”
Nigerian officials were quick to respond, noting the country remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States. Nigeria’s foreign minister said that terrorist violence in any form, whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities, remains an affront to the country’s values. They stressed that all counter-terrorism efforts prioritize protecting civilian lives and upholding the rights and dignity of all citizens.
Published: Dec 26, 2025 03:00 pm