The Nigerian Government Confirms It Provided Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Warns of Additional Attacks
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.