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

Nigeria's government has announced that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had engaged in "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the airstrike.

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

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the violence against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for more strikes.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.

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