Nigeria Reveals It Provided Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence 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 a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
