Nigeria Confirms It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of More Operations

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for attacking Christians.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following 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 further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

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

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

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

"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated further military actions are likely.

The situation underscores the evolving security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating militant groups in the region.