In a press statement published on Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that US forces had successfully conducted devastating airstrikes targeting ISIS strongholds in Nigeria, asserting that the operation completely destroyed the targeted camps. This move comes as part of a new US escalation in counterterrorism efforts in West Africa and the protection of persecuted religious minorities.
Details of the operation and the "Christmas gift"
Speaking to Politico, Trump revealed details of the decision-making process, noting that timing was crucial to the operation's success. "They were planning to do it before, but I said, 'No, let's give them a Christmas present,'" the US president said firmly. He added, explaining the element of surprise that crippled the organization: "They didn't expect it, but we hit them with tremendous force... All their camps were destroyed.".
The US president links this direct military action to reports that the organization is persecuting Christians in those areas, which has made the operation both humanitarian and strategic for the US administration.
High-level military coordination
For his part, US Defense Secretary Pete Higseth affirmed the Pentagon's complete readiness to operate in Africa. Speaking on the "X" platform, Higseth praised the close cooperation with the Nigerian government, expressing his gratitude for Abuja's support in facilitating these precision strikes, which he said reflects a qualitative leap in military relations between the two countries.
The security context and the threat of ISIS in West Africa
These attacks are of paramount importance given the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and West Africa. Over the past few years, Nigeria and its surrounding region have become a hotbed of activity for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group of Boko Haram. This group has consistently carried out deadly attacks targeting both military forces and civilians, with a particular focus on places of worship and Christian villages, threatening the social fabric of Africa's most populous nation.
Significance of timing and expected impact
This direct US intervention marks a significant shift in Washington's strategy toward the African continent, which had previously been largely limited to advisory and logistical support. The timing of the strike carries a dual message: first, to terrorist organizations that the long arm of the United States can reach anywhere; and second, to international and local allies, a renewed American commitment to combating global terrorism.
This operation is expected to disrupt the terrorist organization's ranks and reduce its ability to launch organized attacks in the near term, but it also raises questions about the future of the American military presence in the region and the extent to which these qualitative operations will continue to ensure that the organization does not regroup.
