Nigeria Reveals It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks
The Nigerian government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "extensive" 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 granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
