Nigeria Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
Nigeria's government has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christian communities.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, 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 political figure on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American official has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
