The United States has carried out airstrikes against Islamic State-linked militants in northwest Nigeria, widening its counterterrorism operations in an area where extremist groups are seeking to expand.
Nigeria has fought jihadist insurgencies for more than a decade, mainly in the northeast. Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province remain active there.
In recent years, a smaller faction known locally as Lakurawa has tried to set up camps in Sokoto State, close to the Niger border.
U.S. Africa Command said the strikes hit several militant locations linked to the group. Early assessments suggest multiple fighters were killed, although exact figures are yet to be confirmed.
Nigerian authorities confirmed the operation. They said it was approved by President Bola Tinubu and carried out with the full participation of Nigeria’s armed forces.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the Christmas Day strikes as “deadly.” He accused the militants of targeting Christians and said Washington would not allow “radical Islamic terrorism to prosper.”
Jihadist violence has ravaged northeastern Nigeria for years, leaving thousands dead and communities displaced.
