The Nigerian Government Confirms It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for targeting Christians.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional strikes are likely.
This development highlights the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
