US launches airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria

The US has launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Nigeria, Donald Trump has said.

US Africa Command said the strikes were conducted "in coordination with Nigerian authorities" in Sokoto State, while a US official told the Reuters news agency that the strikes killed multiple targets.

Announcing the military intervention on his social media platform Truth Social, Mr Trump said: "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 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. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.

"Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper."

On X, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: "The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end," he said. "The @DeptofWar [Department of War] is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight - on Christmas."

He added he was grateful to the Nigerian government for its "support and cooperation".

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Mr Trump said last month that he'd ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following claims of Christian persecution.

His government also designated Nigeria a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act and said it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in mass killings and violence against Christians in the West African country.

The Nigerian government previously said Mr Trump's claims that Christians face persecution there is a misrepresentation of the country's complex security challenges.

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(c) Sky News 2025: US launches airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria