Trump announced: the US attacked ISIS targets in Nigeria

In a message he published online, Trump wrote that the attack was aimed at ISIS operatives who he claimed were involved in harming Christians in the country. In addition, he claimed that he had previously warned the organization against the continuation of violence, and added that the US would not allow “extreme Islamic terrorism” to operate without a response.

Trump wrote: “Tonight, under my direction as the commander of the military, the United States carried out powerful and deadly attacks against the scum of ISIS terrorists in northwestern Nigeria, who acted against innocent Christians and brutally killed them. They had to pay dearly for it, and tonight they paid.”

The American president added: “The War Department has carried out a large number of perfect attacks, as only the United States is capable of. Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to thrive. May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to all – including the dead terrorists, of whom there will be many more if the massacre of Christians continues.”

 

The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end.

The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight – on Christmas. More to come…

Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.

Merry Christmas! https://t.co/k5Q3Qd4ClE

– Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) December 25, 2025

Last week, the US military attacked ISIS targets throughout Syria, as part of an operation called the “Hawk’s Eye Attack”, following an attack in Tammor in which two American soldiers and an interpreter were killed. According to the US Central Command, fighter jets of the Jordanian Air Force also participated in the strikes. Trump stated that this was a sharp retaliatory action against ISIS, and noted that the strikes targeted the organization’s strongholds in several areas, including Raqqa, Deir A-Zor and Homs, and that they included dozens of targets and precision ammunition.

 

Tonight, U.S. and Jordanian forces struck 70+ ISIS targets in Syria with 100+ precision munitions. Peace through strength. pic.twitter.com/XWWvfqBBFT

– U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) December 20, 2025

The allegations of massacre of Christians

The attack comes after Trump publicly threatened military action against Nigeria in the last two months, and even hinted at the possibility of ending American aid to the country. According to him at the time, he ordered the Pentagon to prepare for the possibility of attacks due to damage to religious freedom and Christians in the country.

The Nigerian government has denied the claims. The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, previously said that the description of the country as religiously intolerant does not reflect reality, and emphasized that Nigeria is committed to the protection of citizens of all religions.

For years, Nigeria has been dealing with a complex security reality, which includes the activity of terrorist organizations and armed gangs, including Boko Haram. Research sources point out that although attacks have been carried out on Christians, a large part of the victims of the violence are Muslims.