Nigeria Reveals It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Attacks
The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "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 "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation 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.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the region.
