Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Operations
The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christians.
Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by certain supporters of the former president, 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," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Revelations
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- American Stance: A top American defense leader has indicated additional military actions are likely.
The situation underscores the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.
