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

Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

This development highlights the evolving military partnership between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.