The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of Additional Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes 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 avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the region.