Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated further strikes are likely.

The situation highlights the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the region.