The United States military has conducted precision strikes on terrorist camps in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria, in what the U.S. government described as a major offensive against Islamic State–affiliated militants operating in the region.
According to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), the operation occurred on December 25, 2025, when Tomahawk missiles were launched — reportedly from a U.S. Navy warship in the Gulf of Guinea — to hit identified militant positions in Sokoto. The strikes were ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump, who framed the mission as a response to ongoing extremist violence, particularly attacks targeting civilians.
The U.S. military says multiple Islamic State militants were killed in the attack on the camps, and that the mission was carried out in coordination with Nigerian authorities as part of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the strike, saying it reflected structured security collaboration and intelligence sharing between the two countries.
While most reports focus on Islamic State–linked groups, there are also longstanding concerns about Boko Haram and its splinter faction ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) in Nigeria. These groups have been responsible for years of insurgency in the northeast and have periodically expanded operations across northern regions. Although the U.S. strike specifically targeted ISIS-affiliated camps in Sokoto, the broader threat from Boko Haram and ISWAP remains a central challenge to regional security.
The strikes represent a significant escalation of U.S. military involvement in West Africa, drawing both support and controversy amid debates over foreign intervention and the complex dynamics of Nigeria’s multi-faceted security crisis.
