Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Warns of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president 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 some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling 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 responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional strikes are likely.
This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorist threats in the region.
