Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled additional military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
