🔗 Share this article Nigeria Confirms It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Warns of More Operations Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday. Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities. Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike. He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries. "The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens." US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria. Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..." Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response 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. Key Points from the Announcement Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation. Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes. Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions. Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation. American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon. This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
Nigeria's foreign ministry has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on Christmas Day, as stated by the country's foreign minister on Friday. Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks targeting ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of criticizing the group for targeting Christian communities. Extensive Consultations Preceded the Military Action Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had engaged in "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio immediately before and after the airstrike. He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would potentially include other countries. "The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens." US Warns of Further Strikes in Nigeria Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria. Hegseth described the strikes as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a position echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..." Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes The Christmas Day strikes were hailed by certain political allies of the former president, who had been agitating for a forceful response 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. Key Points from the Announcement Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American operation. Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes. Continuous Effort: The operation is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions. Secular Objective: Nigerian officials maintain the strikes are solely about counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation. American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon. This development underscores the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.