Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Attacks
The Nigerian government has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American official has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
