ABUJA — The United States government has formally extended its appreciation to Nigeria for its strategic cooperation following a high-profile military operation against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Sokoto State on Christmas Day.
In a statement released via social media late Thursday, the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, lauded the Nigerian government’s “support and coordination,” which paved the way for the precision strikes. The operation, which involved what appeared to be Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, targeted militant hideouts in the Northwest region.
”The President was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end,” Hegseth stated. “The Department of War is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight — on Christmas. More to come… Grateful for Nigerian government support & cooperation.”
The strikes follow a series of stern warnings from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who has frequently condemned the targeted violence against religious communities in West Africa. In a parallel announcement, President Trump characterized the mission as a “powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum,” asserting that his administration would no longer tolerate the “slaughtering of Christians.”
Intelligence-Led Collaboration
While the U.S. messaging focused heavily on the protection of religious minorities, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the operation was the result of a long-standing, structured security partnership.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar confirmed he held extensive discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the hours leading up to the strike. According to Tuggar, Nigeria provided critical intelligence that enabled the “precision hits” on terrorist camps.
“Nigerian authorities remain engaged in structured security cooperation with international partners, including the United States, in addressing the persistent threat of terrorism,” the Ministry stated. They emphasized that while the U.S. highlighted Christian victims, Nigeria views the extremist threat as an “affront to all Nigerians,” regardless of faith.
A New Doctrine of ‘War’
The operation also marks the first major deployment under the newly rebranded “U.S. Department of War.” Following an executive order in September 2025, the Trump administration restored the historic title to the former Department of Defense, signaling a more aggressive “Peace through Strength” military posture.
U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) reported that the initial assessment indicates multiple ISIS militants were neutralized in the Sokoto camps. General Dagvin Anderson, Commander of AFRICOM, reiterated that the goal of such strikes is to disrupt violent extremist organizations (VEOs) that threaten regional stability and American interests.
As of Friday morning, security forces in Sokoto remain on high alert. While the U.S. has hinted at further operations, Nigerian officials maintain that such actions will continue to be conducted within the framework of bilateral sovereignty and shared intelligence.
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