Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing 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. "It is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has signaled further strikes are likely.
This development underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
