Nigeria Discloses It Provided Key Information for Recent Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Operations
The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.
Detailed Consultations Came Before the Military Action
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective 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 cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts 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 Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The holiday military operation were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating 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 Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has indicated further military actions are on the horizon.
This development highlights the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
