Nigeria Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Preceded 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 prior to and following the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of More Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating 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 avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American official has signaled additional strikes are likely.

This development highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the region.