US-Nigerian Joint Airstrikes Target Islamic State in Sokoto Amid Complex Regional Dynamics
On 26 December 2025, US forces conducted airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in Sokoto state, in north-western Nigeria. The operation was described as a joint action with the Nigerian government, with Abuja providing intelligence and maintaining contact with US forces shortly before execution.
The strikes were publicly framed as a response to alleged genocidal attacks on Christians in Nigeria. However, Nigerian officials have emphasized that the ongoing violence is not religiously discriminatory. Sokoto state, an Islamic heartland, frequently experiences violence affecting Muslim communities, whereas attacks on Christians are more common in other regions such as Benue and Plateau, often linked to conflicts involving herders. This geographic disconnect raises questions about the local drivers of violence.
In November, Nigeria was designated as a "country of particular concern," a move that deepened tensions and influenced the public narratives surrounding the strikes. While the airstrikes have been broadly welcomed across social and political divides within Nigeria, there are concerns that they may inadvertently bolster extremist narratives portraying the intervention as foreign crusader aggression, potentially increasing funding and support for jihadist groups.
The Nigerian security forces continue to face significant challenges, including overstretch, corruption, and shortages of training and equipment. Boko Haram and its splinter factions remain capable of violent actions. Long-term solutions to address the structural drivers of extremism are necessary and include tackling inequality, desertification and climate stress, strengthening governance, countering extremism beyond military means, improving state presence, and securing porous borders.
No credible reports of civilian casualties from the airstrikes have emerged so far.
