Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for US-Led Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Attacks

Nigeria's government has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christian communities.

Extensive Consultations Preceded 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 attack.

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

"This operation had no connection to a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to halt the targeting of Christian individuals, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided crucial information for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials maintain the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional military actions are likely.

This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating militant groups in the Sahel area.