Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks
The Nigerian government has announced 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 had announced the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Extensive Discussions Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations 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 left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized 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, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "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 met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled further military actions are on the horizon.
This development underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.
