The Nigerian Government Reveals It Furnished Key Information for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian government has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for attacking Christians.
Extensive Discussions Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had no connection to 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
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed 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..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US official has indicated additional military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the region.
