The Nigerian Government Reveals It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of More Attacks

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

Ex-President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, 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 targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were met with praise by some 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 responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.

This development highlights the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the region.