The Nigerian Government Reveals It Furnished Key Information for Recent Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing 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 interview with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are likely.
This development underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
