US Conducts Strikes On ISIS Militants in Nigeria

The US launched strikes against ISIS militants in north-western Nigeria on Christmas, alleging the group has been killing Christians in the region. 

The Details: According to military officials, twelve Tomahawk missile strikes hit ISIS camps in Sokota state near Nigeria's border with Niger. The exact number of deaths are currently unknown. President Trump announced the strikes on Truth Social, saying they were "powerful and deadly" against the "terrorist scum" who he said "have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC (Center bias) it was a "joint operation" and had "nothing to do with a particular religion". Tuggar also said the strikes had been planned for "quite some time."

Key Quotes: Trump wrote, "I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was. The Department of War executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing. Under my leadership, our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper."

For Context: In November, the Trump administration accused the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christians against attacks, describing it as a "genocide." According to the Nigeria-based NGO International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), over 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria during the first 220 days of 2025. The organization estimates violence in Nigeria has displaced at least 12 million Christians since 2009, the year the jihadist group Boko Haram began its insurgency. During this time, it also said 189,000 civilians have been killed, including 125,000 Christians and 60,000 liberal Muslims.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the Left, including New York Times (Lean Left) and CNN (Lean Left) emphasized Muslims were also being killed in the region and noted years of religious violence in Nigeria. CNN wrote Muslims were based more in the north, which it said is where most targeted killings have been. The New York Times wrote "Even as the Nigerian authorities have disputed Trump's claims about a Christian 'genocide,' they have chosen to respond to his threats by cooperating." Outlets on the Right, including Fox News (Right), Daily Wire (Right) and Post Millennial (Right) heavily quoted Trump's announcement about the strikes and praise from GOP leaders, while highlighting the violence against Christians. They also mentioned an attack in November at a church in Kwara State, in which two people were killed, and Trump's previous visa-restriction policy against those who have "directed, authorized, significantly supported, participated in, or carried out violations of religious freedom." 

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