On Christmas Day 2025, the U.S. conducted airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, an operation supported by intelligence from the Nigerian government. While President Donald Trump framed the strikes as a response to the targeting of Christians, Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar clarified that the mission focused on terrorists harming all Nigerians regardless of religion. Tuggar emphasized that the timing was based on strategic readiness rather than religious symbolism, though he did not rule out future strikes.
Date: December 26, 2025. Source:theguardian.com