Nigeria Discloses It Furnished Key Information for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks against ISIS fighters in north-west Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christians.

Extensive Consultations Preceded the Operation

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, indicated that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both prior to and following the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's president, Bola Tinubu, had granted authorization for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out further strikes, characterizing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians."

American Official Predicts of Further Actions in Nigeria

Hours after the Christmas Day operation, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in the region.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of efforts to stop the targeting of Christian individuals, a position reiterated by the former president. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "He was explicit... the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Political Reaction to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were hailed 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 celebrate Christmas than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent political figure on a digital platform.

Key Points from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the American operation.
• High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu gave the green light for the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
• Non-Religious Aim: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are focused on counter-terrorism, not religious affiliation.
• US Commitment: A senior US official has indicated further military actions are likely.

This development highlights the evolving security cooperation between Nigeria and the US in addressing militant groups in the Sahel area.