The United States carried out a strike against Islamic State group militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria¡¯s government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians ?in the region.

"Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike ?against ISIS Terrorist ?Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at ?levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The U.S. military¡¯s Africa Command said the strike was carried out in Sokoto state in coordination with the Nigerian authorities and killed multiple IS militants.