Nigeria Confirms It Supplied Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.

He also noted 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 potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "The president was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American official has indicated further military actions are on the horizon.

This development highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.