The Nigerian Government Reveals It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
