The Nigerian Government Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, 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 hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.
This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
