US Launches Strikes Against IS Militants in Nigeria

The United States has launched air strikes against IS-linked militants in north-western Nigeria (image source)

SOKOTO — The United States has carried out air strikes against militants linked to the Islamic State (IS) group in north-western Nigeria, targeting suspected camps in Sokoto State near the border with Niger. The US military said an initial assessment indicated multiple fatalities among the militants.

US President Donald Trump described the Christmas Day strikes as “powerful and deadly,” characterising the targeted fighters as terrorists and alleging that they had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians.” His remarks, however, were played down by Nigerian authorities, who stressed that the operation was not religiously motivated.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, told the BBC that the strikes were part of a joint, intelligence-led operation that had been planned for some time. “This has nothing to do with a particular religion,” Tuggar said, adding that the action was focused on militants responsible for attacks on Nigerian civilians. He did not rule out further operations, noting that timing was dictated by operational readiness rather than symbolism.

Nigeria has faced a protracted insurgency for more than a decade, involving Boko Haram and splinter groups affiliated with Islamic State. While Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) remains strongest in the north-east, security analysts say the latest strikes likely targeted a smaller and newer faction, locally referred to as Lakurawa, which has established bases in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states after spreading from the Sahel. The group is accused of imposing its own social controls and carrying out violent attacks over the past two years.

The intervention comes amid ongoing tension between Washington and Abuja over the framing of Nigeria’s security crisis. The Trump administration has previously accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians and designated the country a “country of particular concern” over religious freedom. However, conflict monitoring organisations, including Acled, say there is no evidence that Christians are disproportionately targeted, noting that most victims of jihadist violence in Nigeria have been Muslims, reflecting the country’s demographic mix.

Confirming the strikes on social media, Trump reiterated his administration’s stance against what it terms “radical Islamic terrorism.” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation, while the Pentagon released video footage showing a missile launch from a naval vessel. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the strikes were part of structured security cooperation with international partners, aimed at delivering “precision hits on terrorist targets” in the north-west.

The operation marks the second major US strike against IS-linked targets in recent weeks, following large-scale attacks in Syria announced earlier this month. Analysts say the Nigerian strikes highlight the increasing international dimension of the country’s counterterrorism efforts. While foreign military support may weaken militant camps in the short term, experts caution that lasting stability will depend on addressing local grievances, poverty, governance challenges and inter-communal violence that continue to fuel insecurity across northern and central Nigeria.