Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing 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. "It is to do with 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 ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies 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 observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing militant groups in the region.
