In a significant and coordinated military operation on Christmas Day, the United States and Nigerian security forces carried out precision airstrikes against identified terrorist targets in northwest Nigeria, primarily in Sokoto State and extending to parts of neighboring Zamfara State. This joint action targeted militants linked to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISWAP) and other terrorist groups, including the local 'Lakurawa' group, accused of violent attacks, bombings, and assaults on civilians in the region.

The operation, which utilized more than a dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from a US Navy ship in the Gulf of Guinea, was the result of extensive intelligence sharing and strategic coordination between the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) and the Nigerian military. US President Donald Trump initially announced the "powerful and deadly strikes" on Truth Social, framing them as retaliation against terrorists "viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians." US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to halt such violence.

The Nigerian government swiftly confirmed its collaboration in the strikes. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, clarified that President Bola Tinubu had approved the operation and that Nigeria had provided the intelligence leading to the strikes. Tuggar emphasized that the collaboration respected Nigeria’s sovereignty and international law, countering concerns that the strikes infringed on the country's territorial integrity. He also cautioned against viewing Nigeria's security challenges solely through a religious lens, asserting that counter-terrorism efforts are guided by the protection of all civilian lives, regardless of faith or ethnicity.

AFRICOM's initial assessment indicated that "multiple" ISIS terrorists were killed, with the strikes specifically targeting camps used for planning and coordination, as well as hideouts along the Nigeria-Niger border. Sokoto State Government officials, including Governor Ahmed Aliyu's spokesperson Abubakar Bawa and Tangaza Local Government Area Chairman Isa Salihu, confirmed the missile strikes, particularly in the Tangaza and Tambuwal LGAs. These areas were described as "primary routes" and hubs for terrorists, particularly the Lakurawa group, which has evolved from foreign herders into a formidable force imposing taxes and their own justice system.

Local reports indicated explosions near villages in Tambuwal LGA, causing panic among residents. While casualty figures for terrorists remain unconfirmed publicly by local officials, Sokoto State Government reported no civilian casualties so far in Tangaza and Tambuwal LGAs, pending a formal assessment from the Joint Operations team. The state government expressed strong support for such international defense partnerships, acknowledging the deteriorating security situation in its northwestern parts, exacerbated by the porous border with Niger which terrorists exploit for movement and arms smuggling.

Despite the government's confirmations, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) criticized President Tinubu's administration, labeling it as showing "historic incompetence" for allowing foreign military operations on Nigerian soil. The opposition party, while supporting lawful efforts to protect Nigerians, warned that direct foreign military involvement could be unsustainable and undermine Nigeria’s long-term strategic interests, urging the government to clarify its precise role and operational control in the mission.