U.S. Carries Out Airstrikes Against Islamic State Militants in Nigeria

U.S. Launches Airstrikes Against Islamic State Militants in Northwest Nigeria

By: Christopher Louissaint
Email: newsroom@haitianprimenews.com
Date: December 25, 2025
Location: Washington / Abuja

The United States has carried out airstrikes targeting Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria. This information comes from a statement issued Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Trump said the strikes were conducted against fighters affiliated with the Islamic State operating in the region, describing the operation as “powerful and deadly.” He added that the action followed reports of repeated attacks on civilian communities, including assaults targeting Christians.

U.S. officials have not released operational details, including the number of strikes, aircraft involved, or casualty figures. The Pentagon has also not confirmed whether the operation was conducted unilaterally or in coordination with Nigerian forces.

Early international reporting indicates the strikes may have been carried out at the request of Nigerian authorities, though there has been no immediate public confirmation from Nigeria’s government.

Islamic State–linked groups have expanded their presence in parts of Nigeria in recent years, particularly through factions that split from Boko Haram and later aligned with Islamic State. These groups have been responsible for mass killings, kidnappings, and the displacement of civilians across northern Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad Basin.

The strikes mark a rare but significant escalation of direct U.S. military action in northwest Nigeria, signaling heightened American involvement in counterterrorism operations in West Africa amid growing regional instability.

Further details are expected as U.S. and Nigerian officials provide additional clarification.

Sources:
Reuters
Associated Press
Al Jazeera
Ground News