The airstrikes were carried out on Christmas Day after intelligence sharing and approval from Nigerian authorities. The targets were militant camps operating in remote areas near Sokoto state, where armed groups linked to IS have been blamed for attacks on villages and civilians in recent months.

Nigerian officials said cooperation with the United States was aimed at maintaining national sovereignty while strengthening the fight against militant violence. They indicated that Abuja chose to work closely with Washington after Trump publicly warned that the US could act alone if attacks, particularly against Christians, continued.

US officials described the operation as a precision strike based on shared intelligence. They confirmed that several IS militants were killed but did not release casualty figures. No civilian casualties were reported by either side.

President Trump said the strikes were carried out in response to brutal attacks by IS militants and warned that further US action would follow if violence against civilians does not stop. He said the United States would continue to defend innocent lives and act decisively against extremist groups.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry stressed that the joint operation was not directed at any religious group, noting that IS violence has affected both Christians and Muslims. Officials said the goal was to weaken militant networks that threaten security across the northwest.

Security analysts said the cooperation reflects growing pressure on Nigeria to show progress against militant groups while managing strong US rhetoric on religious persecution. They added that while the airstrikes signal deeper military coordination with Washington, long term stability will depend on sustained domestic security efforts.

The joint action marks one of the most significant instances of direct US military involvement in Nigeria in recent years and highlights the increasingly international dimension of the country’s security challenges.