The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.
Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State 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 did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were met with praise by some political allies of the former president, who had been calling 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 avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has signaled further strikes are likely.
This development highlights the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
