Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Key Information for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder 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 agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A top American official has indicated further strikes are likely.

This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the region.