Nigeria Reveals It Provided Intelligence for US-Led Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include other countries.

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

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional strikes are likely.

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