“The Department of War carried out numerous flawless strikes — something only the United States is capable of,” Trump said.

“Under my leadership, our country will not allow radical Islamic terrorism to thrive.

“May God bless our military, and Merry Christmas to everyone — including the dead terrorists, of whom there will be many more if the killing of Christians continues.”

In a separate post on X (formerly Twitter), Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was “grateful for the support and cooperation of the Nigerian government.”

He wrote, “The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must stop.

“The @DeptofWar is always ready, and ISIS found that out on Christmas night.

“Grateful for Nigerian government support and cooperation. Merry Christmas!”

Meanwhile, U.S. Africa Command confirmed in a post on X that it carried out strikes in Sokoto State, killing several ISIS fighters.

“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on December 25, 2025, in Sokoto State,” the statement said.

The airstrikes came a day after a bomb exploded inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s northeastern Borno State, killing five people and injuring dozens in a suspected suicide attack.

According to The New York Post, Nigeria has been plagued by persistent violence from armed extremist groups, including Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.

Last month, Trump warned that the United States would cut off aid to Nigeria and take direct military action if the government failed to do more to stop the killing of Christians by Islamic extremists.

In a November 1 post on Truth Social, the president said he had ordered the Department of War to “prepare for possible action” against what he described as “terrorist thugs” operating in Nigeria.

Last week, the Trump administration recalled more than two dozen ambassadors appointed by former President Joe Biden, including envoys to Nigeria and several other African nations.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has authorised military strikes in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.