Nigeria Reveals It Provided Key Information for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks
Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.
Detailed Discussions Came Before the Operation
Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known activist on a digital platform.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American operation.
- Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religion.
- US Commitment: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.
This development highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.
