The Nigerian Government Confirms It Supplied Intelligence for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christians.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.