The Nigerian Government Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Recent Airstrikes as US Official Warns of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christians.
Extensive Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with 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, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US official has indicated additional military actions are likely.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.
