Trump says US carried out Christmas Day strikes on IS militants in northern Nigeria

US President Donald Trump said on Christmas Day that he ordered several US military strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants operating in northern Nigeria, accusing the group of targeting and killing Christians in the region.

In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the strikes were carried out at his direction as commander-in-chief, describing them as “powerful and deadly” operations against IS fighters.

“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,” Trump wrote.

He claimed he had previously warned the militants to stop attacks on Christians, adding that the strikes were a response to continued violence. Trump further stated that the operations were executed by the US military, which he referred to as the “Department of War.”

“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to prosper,” he said, while praising the US armed forces and linking the action to his broader stance against extremist groups.

Trump has in recent months repeatedly highlighted the security challenges faced by Christian communities in Nigeria. In November, he said he had instructed his secretary of defence to prepare for possible action, warning that the United States could intervene militarily if attacks persisted.

Nigeria has long battled multiple insurgent groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram, particularly in its northern regions, where thousands have been killed and displaced over more than a decade of conflict.