Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Discussions Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated additional military actions are likely.

This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the region.