Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Attacks
Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced 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 previously declared the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for attacking Christians.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, 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 no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American official has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
