Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for targeting Christians.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing 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. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known activist on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further military actions are likely.

The situation highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing terrorist threats in the region.