The Nigerian Government Discloses It Supplied Intelligence for Christmas Day Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of More Operations

The Nigerian foreign ministry has stated that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes against Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after a period of decrying the group for attacking Christian communities.

Detailed Discussions Came Before the Military Action

Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" phone conversations with America's top diplomat Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the military action. Tuggar did not rule out additional operations, characterizing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve international partners.

"This operation 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."

US Warns of More Strikes in Nigeria

Hours after the initial strikes, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cautioned of additional military actions against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria.

Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to stop the killing of Christians, a stance reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was explicit... the killing of Christian civilians in Nigeria must cease. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

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

"There is no a more fitting manner to observe the holiday than by avenging the death of Christians," posted one well-known political figure on social media.

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.
• 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 counter-terrorism, not religion.
• American Stance: A senior US defense leader has signaled further military actions are likely.

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