Nigeria Reveals It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS militants 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, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.
"The strikes had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
