The Nigerian Government Discloses It Furnished Intelligence for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christians.

Extensive Discussions Came Before the Operation

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

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."

American Official Predicts of More Actions in Nigeria

Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US official has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.

The situation highlights the complex military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.