Nigeria Confirms It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance 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 Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are likely.
This development underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
