The Nigerian Government Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Operations

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

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts 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 north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

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

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
• US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled further strikes are on the horizon.

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