Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American official has indicated additional military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
