Nigeria Reveals It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for targeting Christians.

Extensive Discussions Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "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 did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, 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," commented one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American defense leader has signaled further military actions are likely.

This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.