U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation following American airstrikes on Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day.
In a post on X, Hegseth wrote that the operation fulfilled President Donald Trump's earlier warnings about protecting Christians from violence, adding, "More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation. Merry Christmas!"The strikes, carried out by U.S. Africa Command in coordination with Nigerian authorities, targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State. Initial assessments indicate multiple militants were killed.
President Trump announced the action on Truth Social, describing it as a "powerful and deadly strike" against "ISIS Terrorist Scum" accused of targeting innocent Christians.Nigerian officials confirmed the operation was part of ongoing security collaboration, including intelligence sharing.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar emphasized that the joint effort focused on combating terrorism without religious bias, noting Nigeria provided key intelligence.
The strikes mark a rare direct U.S. military intervention in Nigeria and come amid heightened concerns over Islamist militancy in the region. While Trump framed the action as a response to attacks on Christians, Nigerian leaders stressed it addressed broader threats affecting all citizens.
Hegseth's message highlighted the partnership, signaling potential further operations as both nations work to counter extremist groups.
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