Trump says US carried out deadly strike against ISIS in northwest Nigeria video

President Trump announced late on December 25 that the US had carried out what he described as a “deadly strike” against Islamic State fighters in northwest Nigeria, accusing the group of killing Christians in the region.

In a Christmas night post on Truth Social, Trump said the operation targeted “ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!”

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote, adding that US forces had “executed numerous perfect strikes.”

“Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper,” the president continued. “May God Bless our Military, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.”

The Department of War released a video of the strike on its X account: 

.@POTUS “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, at levels not seen for many years, and… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025

Trump’s announcement followed multiple US strikes last week against ISIS targets in Syria, which were carried out in response to what US Central Command described as the targeted killing of two US soldiers and an interpreter by an ISIS gunman.

The president has repeatedly accused Nigeria of failing to halt the persecution of Christians. Last month, he said he had instructed the Pentagon to prepare plans for possible military action against Nigeria and warned that the US could suspend aid to the West African country.

Nigeria is roughly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims. Nigerian authorities maintain that attacks by militant groups are driven less by religion than by the geographic areas in which those groups operate.

Last month, Nigeria said it welcomed US assistance in combating insurgents but stressed that the country’s territorial integrity must be respected, according to Reuters.

US Africa Command said in a statement that it had “conducted a strike at the request of Nigerian authorities in Sokoto State killing multiple ISIS terrorists.”

In a post on X, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote: “The @DeptofWar is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”

As of now, Nigerian officials have not formally commented on the reported strikes.

By Tamilla Hasanova