The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated 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..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are likely.
This development underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.
