Nigeria's government has confirmed it provided intelligence and authorised a series of US military airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) militants on Christmas Day.
Co-ordinated Action Against Militants
The strikes, which targeted ISIS camps in north-western Nigeria on 25 December, were conducted with the direct approval of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. The country's Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, stated he had held extensive discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio both before and after the military action.
Tuggar emphasised the operation was a counter-terrorism measure, stating it had "nothing to do with a particular religion" or the Christmas holiday. "It could be any other day – it is to do with attacking terrorists who have been killing Nigerians," he told the BBC.
US Warns of Further Strikes
Following the attacks, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning of more action to come. In a post on X, he wrote: "The president was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. The [Pentagon] is always ready, so ISIS found out tonight – on Christmas. More to come…"
This aligns with President Donald Trump's previous declarations condemning the targeting of Christians by the militant group. Minister Tuggar described the strikes as part of an "ongoing process" that could involve other nations, not ruling out further operations.
Reaction and Wider Context
The action was met with approval from some of Trump's supporters. Far-right activist Laura Loomer hailed it as an "amazing Christmas present," posting on X: "I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by avenging the death of Christians."
The strikes occurred amidst other significant geopolitical developments, including an announcement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday for talks concerning a potential peace deal with Russia.
The aftermath of the airstrikes in Kwara state was documented by photographers, showing visible damage at the site of the militant camps.
