Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations
The Nigerian government has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are likely.
The situation underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
