Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... 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 political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US official has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.
