Nigeria Reveals It Provided Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.
Extensive Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following 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 efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development highlights the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
