The Nigerian Government Confirms It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's government has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American official has indicated additional strikes are likely.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
