Nigeria Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign 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 signaled further strikes are likely.
This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.
