The Nigerian Government Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for attacking Christians.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign 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 senior US official has indicated further military actions are likely.

This development highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.