The United States has confirmed that it carried out targeted strikes against militant camps linked to Islamic States in Nigeria. According to officials from both countries, the mission was a coordinated operation based on shared intelligence. The move highlights growing security cooperation as authorities respond to the rising threat of Islamic States in Nigeria.
US military officials stated that the strike was conducted at the request of Nigeria’s government. They explained that the mission focused on militant sites in Sokoto State, where fighters aligned with Islamic States in Nigeria have tried to establish new bases.
A short video released by the US Department of Defense appeared to show a missile being launched from a military vessel, confirming the timing of the operation. President Donald Trump described the strike as a necessary action to protect civilians from violent militant groups. Nigeria also confirmed the mission but stressed that it was aimed at countering terrorism rather than targeting any specific religious group.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said the strike followed months of intelligence sharing and careful planning. He explained that Nigerian and US authorities worked together to identify militant locations connected to Islamic States in Nigeria, and future joint missions may occur based on leadership decisions from both countries.
For years, Nigeria has faced threats from Boko Haram and Islamic State-linked groups, mostly in the northeast. However, newer splinter groups linked to Islamic States in Nigeria have moved into northwestern regions such as Sokoto and Kebbi. Some local residents in the village of Jabo reported hearing a loud explosion that shook the area, while others denied the presence of any militants in their community.
The operation reflects growing military cooperation between the two countries. US Africa Command confirmed that several militants were killed, and Nigerian authorities said precision air strikes were used to hit targeted camps. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked Nigeria for its cooperation and hinted that more actions may follow. Nigeria continues to emphasize that extremist violence affects people of all faiths and that the goal is to protect all communities.
The strike also aligns with a wider US strategy against ISIS. Recently, the US also launched large-scale operations in Syria, targeting more than 70 Islamic State positions. Analysts believe the Sokoto strike may have targeted a newer faction connected to Islamic States in Nigeria, which has expanded in the region since 2018.
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