United States forces have carried out air strikes against Islamic State group militants in north western Nigeria, marking the first such operation in the country under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the strikes early on Friday, saying they were precision operations aimed at terrorist targets. The US Department of Defense’s Africa Command said the attack took place in Sokoto State and resulted in the deaths of multiple Islamic State militants. The operation was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities, although the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed.
Trump Cites Violence Against Christians
The strikes follow repeated warnings from Trump, who has accused militant groups in Nigeria of carrying out sustained attacks against Christians. In recent weeks, he indicated that Washington was prepared to take military action should the violence continue.
US defence officials later released footage appearing to show a missile launch from a US naval vessel during a night time operation, though further operational details were not provided.
Mixed Reaction to US Intervention
The intervention comes after Trump publicly criticised Nigeria late last year, claiming Christians in the country faced an existential threat amid ongoing armed conflict. While some welcomed Washington’s stance, others warned that such statements risked inflaming religious tensions in Africa’s most populous nation, which has experienced bouts of sectarian violence in the past.
Nigeria’s government and several independent analysts have rejected framing the country’s insecurity primarily as religious persecution, instead pointing to a complex mix of terrorism, banditry and organised crime.
Nigeria And US Stress Security Cooperation
The Nigerian government said it remains engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, to address the ongoing threat of terrorism and violent extremism.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed Nigeria’s cooperation, describing the partnership as critical to counterterrorism efforts.
Earlier this year, the United States reinstated Nigeria on its list of countries of particular concern regarding religious freedom and imposed visa restrictions on Nigerian nationals. Trump has also warned that US aid to Nigeria could be halted if attacks on Christians persist.
Ongoing Violence Across Nigeria
Nigeria is roughly divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south. The north eastern region has endured more than 15 years of insurgency linked to Boko Haram, with more than 40,000 people killed and millions displaced.
At the same time, criminal gangs known as bandits have intensified attacks across the north west, north and central regions, carrying out village raids, mass kidnappings and killings.
The latest developments come amid continued instability, including a deadly explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri earlier this week, which killed at least seven worshippers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
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