Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve other countries.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
