The Nigerian Government Reveals It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence 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 strikes targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" 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 granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, 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 to do with attacking terrorists who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

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

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

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

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one well-known activist on social media.

Main Takeaways 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 "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religion.
• US Commitment: A top American official has signaled 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 Sahel area.