Nigeria Reveals It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations
Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role 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 ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christians.
Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. 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 Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated additional strikes are likely.
This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating terrorist threats in the region.
