Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Recent Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated 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 president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Military Action
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- American Stance: A senior US official has signaled further military actions are on the horizon.
This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.