The Nigerian Government Reveals It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's government has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Extensive Discussions Preceded 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 attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief 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 targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating 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," posted one well-known political figure on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American official has indicated additional strikes are likely.
The situation underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating terrorist threats in the region.
