Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

The situation underscores the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.