Nigeria Confirms It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" 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 specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians 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 strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled additional strikes are likely.

This development underscores the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.