Nigeria Confirms It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christians.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve other countries.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American official has indicated additional strikes are on the horizon.
This development underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
