On December 25, 2025, U.S. President Donald J. Trump announced that American forces had conducted airstrikes on ISIS/ISIL-affiliated militant targets in northwestern Nigeria. Through social media and other channels, Trump stated that the military operation aimed to combat extremist groups, respond to their attacks on local civilians—particularly Christians—and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to counterterrorism. The strikes involved the use of Tomahawk cruise missiles and drones targeting sites in Sokoto State. Both Trump and the Pentagon described the airstrikes as a “powerful and lethal” counterterrorism measure, intended to respond to the long-standing attacks by extremist groups on innocent civilians.
On December 26, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs officially confirmed the airstrikes, emphasizing that the operation was carried out within a framework of security cooperation and intelligence sharing with the United States and other international partners. The Nigerian government stated that it would continue to collaborate with international partners and provide updates to the public through official channels.
Following the announcement, domestic reactions in Nigeria were mixed. Some citizens supported the airstrikes, viewing them as a necessary action against extremism and welcoming external assistance to improve security. Others emphasized that Nigeria’s long-term security depends on domestic capacity to combat terrorist threats, and that international cooperation should not replace local governance mechanisms. Catholic Church leaders in Nigeria expressed both support and reservations, recognizing the anti-terror message conveyed by the strikes while noting the complex local security situation shaped by governance, corruption, and societal factors.
Nigeria and the broader Sahel region have long faced the expansion of extremist organizations, such as ISWAP and Boko Haram, which operate transnationally and have triggered serious security and humanitarian crises. This context forms the security backdrop for the U.S. airstrikes. Regional cooperation frameworks, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have been strengthening counterterrorism collaboration.
To date, the UN Security Council has not issued an official statement specifically addressing these airstrikes. However, international policy observers and experts have commented on the operation and its potential consequences. Organizations such as the Crisis Group noted that although the Trump administration had previously threatened “humanitarian intervention,” actual military action could exacerbate regional instability and must adhere to international law. Similarly, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) views the expansion of extremism in Nigeria as a challenge to both West African and global security, advocating for integrated governance and multilateral cooperation rather than isolated military action. Currently, governments have not presented a unified stance at the UN, but the international community closely monitors the legality of cross-border military operations and their compliance with the UN Charter, particularly regarding sovereignty and the prohibition of the use of force.
The airstrikes were conducted with the approval of the Nigerian government, providing a formal sovereign authorization. International law scholars generally consider such operations to be legitimate “invited military assistance” when conducted at the invitation of the affected state and targeting recognized international terrorist organizations. In the long term, such military interventions may have complex effects on Nigeria’s domestic politics, social cohesion, and religious dynamics. Cross-religious extremism and weak local governance remain fundamental challenges. Without integrating regional counterterrorism cooperation and strengthening governance capacity, a single airstrike operation is unlikely to fundamentally alter the security landscape.
The U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria represent a new form of global counterterrorism cooperation, yet they also highlight the intricate challenges of security governance and diplomatic legality. In the future, the international community’s response, the internal political dynamics of affected states, and multilateral cooperation frameworks will all influence the long-term impact of these operations.
Tags：Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Counterterrorism and Homeland Security, Defense and Security, Terrorism and Irregular Warfare, and Transnational Threats
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