Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks
The Nigerian government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American official has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.
