Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters 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," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US official has indicated additional strikes are on the horizon.

This development highlights the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.