Clarion Newschannel – December 26, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of U.S. military action in Africa, President Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day that American forces launched precision airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) camps in northwest Nigeria’s Sokoto State, killing multiple militants.
“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!” Trump posted on Truth Social from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed the operation, stating it was conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and targeted known ISIS camps in Sokoto State, which borders Niger. Initial assessments indicate multiple ISIS terrorists were eliminated, with reports describing the use of over a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from a U.S. Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praised the strikes on social media, thanking the Nigerian government for its support and warning, “More to come.” Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the operation, describing it as part of ongoing security cooperation that resulted in “precision hits on terrorist targets” in the northwest, while reaffirming the country’s commitment to protecting all citizens regardless of faith or ethnicity.
The strikes come amid President Trump’s repeated focus on violence against Christians in Nigeria throughout 2025. In recent months, he has highlighted attacks by Islamist insurgents, including ISIS-affiliated groups, and previously warned of potential U.S. intervention to halt what he described as severe persecution.
Sokoto State, predominantly Muslim, has seen growing activity from ISIS-linked militants amid broader regional instability involving banditry and insurgency. No civilian casualties have been reported from the U.S. operation, though social media images of missile fragments near a village circulated without confirmed injuries.
This marks the latest in a series of U.S. counterterrorism actions under the Trump administration, following recent strikes in Syria and Somalia.
Clarion Newschannel will continue to monitor developments as battle damage assessments and reactions from both governments emerge.
BREAKING: Trump Orders Christmas Day Airstrikes on ISIS Camps in Nigeria, Killing Multiple Militants
