Nigeria Confirms It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Warns of Additional Operations

Nigeria's foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for attacking Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation

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

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.

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

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by some 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 prominent activist on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US official has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.

The situation underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the region.