🔗 Share this article Nigeria Discloses It Provided Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday. Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities. Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack. He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners. "This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians." US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria. Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..." Political Reaction to the Military Action The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians. "I can’t think of a more fitting manner 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 operation. High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes. Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions. Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion. American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon. The situation underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.
The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday. Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities. Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack. He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners. "This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians." US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria. Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..." Political Reaction to the Military Action The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians. "I can’t think of a more fitting manner 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 operation. High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes. Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions. Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion. American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon. The situation underscores the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating militant groups in the region.