Nigeria Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More 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 described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the US in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
