The Nigerian Government Reveals It Provided Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Operations
The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He further added 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 "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has indicated further strikes are likely.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
