The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained 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 given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after 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 efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He 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 met with praise by certain supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

The situation highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the Sahel area.