Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been calling 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.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
