Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The holiday military operation 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 better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated additional strikes are likely.
This development highlights the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.
