The Nigerian Government Confirms It Provided Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it played a role in the American military operation carried out on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for attacking Christians.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation

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

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some supporters of the former president, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American official has indicated further military actions are on the horizon.

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