The Nigerian Government Reveals It Furnished Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as Defense Secretary Warns of Additional Attacks

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it played a role in the US airstrikes carried out on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an interview with the BBC. "The objective is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth cautioned of more strikes against ISIS locations in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a social media post, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Airstrikes

The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.

"There is no a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," posted one well-known activist on social media.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Cooperation: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the American airstrikes.
• High-Level Approval: 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 strongly insist the strikes are focused on combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US official has indicated additional military actions are on the horizon.

This development highlights the complex security cooperation between the West African nation and the US in combating terrorist threats in the region.