Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister on Friday.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.
Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.
He also noted that Nigeria's president, 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 other countries.
"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Military Action
The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.
Key Points from the Revelations
- Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
- Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
- American Stance: A top American official has signaled further military actions are on the horizon.
This development highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
