Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's government has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christians.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" 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 particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, 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 a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were met with praise by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated further military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
