Nigeria Confirms It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Predicts of More Attacks

The Nigerian government has confirmed that it played a role in the US airstrikes conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister this week.

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

Detailed Discussions Came Before the Operation

Nigeria's top diplomat, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had held "lengthy" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio immediately prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.

"The strikes had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an interview with the BBC. "It is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after 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 halt the killing of Christians, a stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Airstrikes

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

"I can’t think of a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one prominent activist on a digital platform.

Main Takeaways from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria supplied crucial information for the American airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Ongoing Process: The operation is viewed as an "ongoing process" with the possibility of future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.

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