The United States has launched airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in north-western Nigeria in a joint operation with Nigerian authorities, President Donald Trump has confirmed.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the US military conducted what he described as “powerful and deadly” strikes against the extremist group, accusing IS of carrying out violent attacks on civilians. He added that under his leadership, the United States would not allow extremist groups to thrive.
The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) later confirmed that the operation took place in Sokoto State and was carried out in coordination with Nigeria. Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar described the strikes as a joint counter-terrorism operation targeting terrorist elements, stressing that the action was not directed at any particular religion.
Speaking to the BBC, Tuggar said the operation had been planned for some time and was based on intelligence provided by Nigerian security agencies. He added that further military action could be considered depending on decisions taken by the leadership of both countries.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also acknowledged Nigeria’s cooperation, expressing appreciation for the support of the Nigerian government. The US Department of Defense later released a short video appearing to show a missile launch linked to the operation.
In a statement issued on Friday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address terrorism and violent extremism. The ministry confirmed that the collaboration had resulted in precision airstrikes on terrorist targets in the North West.
The operation follows earlier comments by Trump in November, when he ordered the US military to prepare for possible action against Islamist militant groups operating in Nigeria. In recent months, claims have circulated in some US political circles alleging widespread religiously motivated killings in Nigeria, though violence monitoring groups say there is no evidence that Christians are being targeted more than Muslims.
An adviser to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, has previously stated that Nigeria welcomes international support in fighting insurgency but insists that any military action must respect the country’s sovereignty and be carried out jointly. President Tinubu has also maintained that Nigeria’s security challenges affect people across religions and regions.
Nigeria has battled jihadist violence for more than a decade, particularly from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with thousands killed, most of them Muslims, according to conflict analysts. The country has also faced deadly communal clashes in central regions over land and resources, involving both Muslim and Christian communities.
The US action in Nigeria comes shortly after American forces carried out a large-scale strike against Islamic State targets in Syria, according to the US Central Command.
Source: BBC
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