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US Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth Commends Nigerian Government for Cooperation in Christmas-Day Strike
The United States Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth, has publicly commended the Nigerian government for its cooperation and support following a U.S. military strike against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Nigeria carried out on Christmas Day.
In a statement shared on his official social media handle, Hegseth indicated that the operation was in line with a clear directive from the U.S. President to end the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and other parts of the world. He noted that the Department of War remains on constant readiness to respond to terrorist threats, stressing that ISIS operatives felt the impact of that resolve during the Christmas operation.
Hegseth expressed gratitude to Nigerian authorities for their collaboration, describing the cooperation as crucial to the success of the strike. He added that further actions may follow, signaling sustained international attention on terrorist activities within the region. He concluded his message by extending Christmas greetings.
The Christmas-Day strike follows an earlier and strongly worded warning issued by Hegseth on November 1, 2025, in which he condemned the killing of Christians in Nigeria and beyond. At the time, he stated that such violence must end immediately and disclosed that the Department of War was preparing for decisive action. He also warned that failure to protect vulnerable communities would prompt direct action against Islamic terrorists responsible for the atrocities.
The latest development underscores growing U.S. involvement in counterterrorism efforts in Nigeria, particularly in response to attacks on civilians, and highlights an evolving security partnership between Washington and Abuja aimed at combating extremist violence and protecting innocen
t lives.