The Nigerian Government Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations

The Nigerian government 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.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for attacking Christians.

Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation

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 airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, 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 insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

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

"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled further strikes are on the horizon.

This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.