The Nigerian Government Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for 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 emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US official has indicated further strikes are likely.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.
