Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as US Official Warns of Additional Attacks
The Nigerian government has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed 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," posted one prominent activist on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated additional military actions are likely.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
