The Nigerian Government Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

Nigeria's government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had no connection to 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 Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated further strikes are likely.

This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.