Trump Announces Deadly US Strikes on ISIS in Nigeria

President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday that US forces launched several deadly strikes on Islamic State militants in northwestern Nigeria, pledging more attacks if the group continues its violence against Christians.

Trump, without offering specifics, said, "The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes" against IS targets on Christmas Day. He posted on Truth Social, "I warned these terrorists that if they did not stop slaughtering Christians, there would be hell to pay. Tonight, there was."

The president added, "May God bless our military," and provocatively wrote, "Merry Christmas to all, including the dead terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues."

US Africa Command stated that the strike, conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities, resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS militants. Pentagon official Pete Hegseth praised the US military's readiness and expressed gratitude for Nigeria's cooperation.

These strikes represent the first US military action in Nigeria under Trump's leadership. The attacks follow the president's recent remarks in which he described the violence against Christians in Nigeria as an "existential threat" and "genocide." While some welcomed his intervention, others feared it could escalate religious tensions in the country, which has experienced sectarian violence in the past.

Nigeria's government, along with independent analysts, has disputed the framing of the violence as religious persecution.