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<p data-start="0" data-end="364"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">The United States carried out airstrikes targeting ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria, with President Donald Trump announcing the operation in a strongly worded statement during the Christmas period. Trump said the strikes were ordered in response to what he described as the brutal and sustained killing of Christians by terrorist groups operating in the region.</span></p>
<p data-start="366" data-end="700"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">In a post on his social media platform, Trump said the attack was launched under his direction as commander-in-chief and described it as a &ldquo;powerful and deadly strike&rdquo; against ISIS operatives. He accused the group of carrying out vicious attacks on Christian communities, claiming the violence had reached levels not seen for decades.</span></p>
<p data-start="702" data-end="963"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">According to the US military&rsquo;s Africa Command, the strike was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIS militants. The operation forms part of broader counter-terrorism cooperation between Washington and Abuja.</span></p>
<p data-start="965" data-end="1436"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Trump reiterated his long-held position that Christianity faces an existential threat in Nigeria and warned that the United States would not tolerate what he called the slaughter of innocent civilians. He said radical Islamic terrorism would not be allowed to prosper under his leadership and added that further action would follow if attacks continued. In his remarks, Trump controversially wished &ldquo;Merry Christmas&rdquo; while referring to the militants killed in the strike.</span></p>
<p data-start="1438" data-end="1869"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Nigeria&rsquo;s government, however, has maintained that armed groups in the country target both Muslims and Christians, and that the security crisis is complex. Authorities have stated that while religious freedom is protected, violence is driven by a mix of insurgency, banditry and communal tensions. Nigeria has nonetheless agreed to work closely with the United States to strengthen its security forces and counter militant threats.</span></p>
<p data-start="1871" data-end="2071" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: georgia, palatino, serif;">Nigeria&rsquo;s population is broadly divided between a largely Muslim north and a predominantly Christian south, with years of insurgency and criminal violence destabilising several regions of the country.</span></p>
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President Donald Trump pumps his fist at Christmas Eve dinner at his Mar-a-Lago club

Trump says deadly US strikes hit ISIS in Nigeria over attacks on Christians

US strikes ISIS in Nigeria, Trump warns militants

Trump says deadly US strikes hit ISIS in Nigeria over attacks on Christians

December 26, 2025 | 12:29 IST