The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Extensive Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes 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 murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of 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
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated additional strikes are likely.
The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.