Nigeria Reveals It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information 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 the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American official has signaled additional military actions are likely.
This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
