Nigeria Discloses It Supplied Key Information for Christmas Day Airstrikes as US Official Warns of More Attacks

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

Former President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for targeting Christian communities.

Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated that he had engaged in "extensive" discussions with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.

He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would potentially include international partners.

"The strikes had nothing to do with a particular religion," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "The objective is to do with targeting militants who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Strikes in Nigeria

Shortly following the initial strikes, 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 killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

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

"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one well-known political figure on social media.

Key Points from the Revelations

• Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the strikes.
• Ongoing Process: The campaign is viewed as an "ongoing process" with potential for more strikes.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A top American defense leader has signaled additional military actions are on the horizon.

This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.