Nigeria Reveals It Furnished Key Information for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Attacks
The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for attacking Christians.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.
He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.
This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
