Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's government has announced that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has signaled further military actions are on the horizon.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
