The United States Department of Defense has released video footage showing military air strikes carried out in Sokoto State, northwest Nigeria.
Earlier, the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed that the air strikes targeted terrorists, describing the operation as deadly, while acknowledging that innocent Nigerians were killed in the process.
Subsequently, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said the strikes were conducted on the directive of U.S. President Donald Trump and in coordination with Nigerian authorities.
According to AFRICOM, the operation followed warnings issued by the U.S. leader to armed groups to halt attacks on civilians, particularly Christians in northern Nigeria.
In a post on X, AFRICOM stated:
“At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with Nigerian authorities, U.S. Africa Command conducted strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria on Dec. 25, 2025, in Sokoto State.”
Security expert Brant Philip added that the strike on Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria was believed to have been launched from the USS Paul Ignatius, using a Tomahawk missile.
In a separate post, Philip shared the video released by the U.S. Department of Defense showing the air strikes on terrorist hideouts in the Sokoto forest.
Recall that President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social that the US launched an attack on a terrorist enclave in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government had confirmed that the strike was carried out as joint operations against terrorist enclaves in the country.
Watch video:
https://x.com/BrantPhilip_/status/2004358944307953699/video/1
