The United States has carried out strikes targeting Islamic State militants in Nigeria.

The United States has carried out air strikes on Islamic State (IS)–linked militants in north-western Nigeria, targeting camps in Sokoto state near the Niger border. The US military said an initial assessment indicated multiple fatalities.

US President Donald Trump described the Christmas Day strikes as “powerful and deadly,” accusing the group of killing innocent Christians. Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, however, said the operation was a joint effort with Nigerian forces and had no religious motive. He stressed the strikes were planned in advance using Nigerian intelligence and could have taken place on any day.

Nigeria has been battling jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and IS-linked factions for years, mainly in the north-east. Analysts believe the strikes may have targeted a newer IS-aligned splinter group that recently established camps in Sokoto and Kebbi states.

While the Trump administration has accused Nigeria of failing to protect Christians, violence monitoring groups say there is no evidence Christians are targeted more than Muslims, noting most victims of jihadist attacks in Nigeria are Muslim.

The Nigerian government confirmed continued security cooperation with the US, calling the strikes precision attacks aimed at weakening terrorist networks.