Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for attacking Christians.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations 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 wrote, "He was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are likely.
This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
