The Nigerian Government Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for targeting Christians.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.

"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned 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 echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. 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.

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.

This development underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.