The Nigerian Government Confirms It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
Nigeria's government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation 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 More Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US official has indicated further military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.
