Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christians.

Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized 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

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain 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 better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.

The situation highlights the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.