Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following 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, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria

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

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated additional military actions are likely.

The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.