The Nigerian government has stated that it played a role in the American military operation conducted on December 25, according to the country's foreign minister on Friday.
Ex-President Donald Trump previously declared the aerial attacks against Islamic State militants in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks decrying the group for attacking Christians.
Detailed Discussions Preceded the Operation
Nigeria's foreign minister, 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 left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had nothing to do with a specific faith," Tuggar insisted in an discussion with the BBC. "It is to do with targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
US Warns of Further Actions in Nigeria
Hours after the Christmas Day operation, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned of more strikes against Islamic State targets in the region.
Hegseth characterized the action as part of a mission to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the former president. In a social media post, Hegseth stated, "The president was explicit... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
Political Reaction to the Airstrikes
The Christmas Day strikes were met with praise by certain political allies of the ex-leader, who had been agitating for a forceful response to the attacks against Christians.
"I can’t think of a better way to observe the holiday than by responding to the killings of Christians," commented one prominent activist on a digital platform.
Main Takeaways from the Announcement
- Intelligence Sharing: Nigeria actively provided key intelligence for the US-led airstrikes.
- High-Level Approval: President Bola Tinubu personally authorized the military action.
- Continuous Effort: The operation is viewed as an "continuing mission" with the possibility of future actions.
- Secular Objective: Nigerian officials strongly insist the strikes are solely about combating militants, not religious affiliation.
- US Commitment: A top American defense leader has indicated further strikes are on the horizon.
The situation underscores the complex military partnership between Nigeria and the US in combating terrorist threats in the Sahel area.
