Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information 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 "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American official has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.

The situation underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.