The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

Nigeria's government has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, 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 interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary 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 stance echoed 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..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were hailed 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 observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are likely.

The situation underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorist threats in the region.