Nigeria Confirms It Furnished Key Information for Recent Military Strikes as US Official Predicts of Additional Operations

Nigeria's government has confirmed that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.

Former President Donald Trump had announced the aerial attacks targeting Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria after a period of criticizing the organization for attacking Christian communities.

Detailed Consultations Preceded the Operation

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

He further added that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had given the "go-ahead" for the military action. Tuggar left the door open for further strikes, describing them as an "continuous effort" that would also involve other countries.

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

US Warns 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 stance echoed by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth wrote, "The president was clear... the murder of Christian civilians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."

Supporters' Response to the Military Action

The holiday military operation were met with praise by certain supporters of the ex-leader, who had been calling for a strong military reaction to the attacks against Christians.

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

Key Points from the Announcement

• Cooperation: Nigeria supplied key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
• Presidential Authorization: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
• Continuous Effort: The campaign is described as an "continuing mission" with potential for future actions.
• Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the targeting are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
• American Stance: A senior US official has signaled additional strikes are on the horizon.

The situation highlights the evolving military partnership between the West African nation and the United States in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.