Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response 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.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further military actions are likely.
This development highlights the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.
