The Nigerian Government Reveals It Furnished Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christians.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing 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 violence against Christians.

"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• US Commitment: A top American official has signaled further strikes are likely.

This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in addressing militant groups in the region.