Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the nation's foreign minister this week.

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

Extensive Consultations Preceded 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 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 potentially include other countries.

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

American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the violence 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 prominent political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

This development underscores the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the US in addressing militant groups in the region.