United States conducts military strikes on Islamic State targets in Sokoto state

The United States carried out what has been described as powerful and coordinated military strikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militant positions in northwest.

The position attacked are located in Sokoto State. The action, ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, in a move said to aimed at degrading extremist group capabilities and responding to ongoing violent attacks across the region.

In a post on his social media platform, President Trump said the strikes were directed at ISIS militants who have been targeting and killing civilians, particularly Christians, a claim he has repeatedly raised in recent weeks as part of his justification for action.

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities.

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According to AFRICOM’s initial assessment, multiple ISIS terrorists were killed in militant camps targeted during the strikes.

Nigerian officials described the action as part of ongoing security cooperation, emphasizing intelligence sharing and strategic coordination to counter violent extremist groups, including those affiliated with the Islamic State operating in the vast forested areas of Sokoto and bordering regions.

While President Trump framed the strikes as a response to violence against Christians, Nigerian authorities and security analysts note that the broader security crisis affects both Christian and Muslim communities across Nigeria’s northwest and northeast.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar stressed that the operation targeted terrorists broadly, not a particular religion.

The December 25 strikes marked a significant escalation in U.S. military involvement in Nigeria’s long-running fight against Islamist insurgent groups, including factions associated with the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and the Lakurawa network in the northwest.

President Trump’s announcement came amid broader discussions about religious violence and security in Nigeria, and Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his government’s commitment to protecting all citizens and promoting peace across religious lines.