Nigeria Discloses It Provided Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Operations

Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, as stated by the country's foreign minister this week.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the airstrike.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the airstrikes. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

US Warns of More Actions in Nigeria

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

Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by some political allies of the former president, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated further military actions are likely.

This development underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating militant groups in the region.