The Nigerian foreign ministry has announced that it provided crucial intelligence in the American military operation carried out on Christmas Day, according to the nation's foreign minister this week.
Former President Donald Trump had announced the strikes targeting Islamic State fighters in the northwestern region of Nigeria after spending weeks criticizing the group for targeting Christians.
Nigeria's foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, explained that he had held "extensive" discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the attack.
He also noted that Nigeria's leader, Bola Tinubu, had approved for the airstrikes. Tuggar left the door open for additional operations, describing them as an "ongoing process" that would also involve international partners.
"This operation had no connection to a particular religion," Tuggar emphasized in an discussion with the BBC. "It is about targeting militants who have been murdering Nigerian citizens."
Shortly following the Christmas Day operation, 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 efforts to halt the killing of Christians, a position reiterated by the ex-commander in chief. In a public statement, Hegseth stated, "He was clear... the murder of innocent Christians in Nigeria must end. More to come..."
The holiday military operation were met with praise by certain supporters of the former president, who had been calling for a forceful response to the violence against Christians.
"There is no a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians," commented one prominent activist on social media.
The situation highlights the complex security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States in addressing terrorist threats in the region.
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