The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as Defense Secretary Predicts of Additional Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for attacking Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

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

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by some political allies of the ex-leader, 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 political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described 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 top American official has signaled additional military actions are likely.

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