Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "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 granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" 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 to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the region.
