The Nigerian Government Reveals It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.

Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the airstrike.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.

"This operation had no connection to 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 Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• US Commitment: A top American official has indicated further military actions are on the horizon.

This development underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.