Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks

The Nigerian government has announced that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," 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 Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American official has signaled further strikes are on the horizon.

This development underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.