The Nigerian Government Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

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

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt 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 killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

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

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.

The situation highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing militant groups in the region.