Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for attacking Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, 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 killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional strikes are on the horizon.
The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
