The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Key Information for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Preceded the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.

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

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth described the strikes as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The holiday military operation were hailed by some supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.

"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent political figure on social media.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religion.
• US Commitment: A senior US official has signaled additional strikes are likely.

The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.