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The United States War Department missed most of the individuals and groups targeted in its first air strikes against Islamic jihadists on Thursday, according to Brant Philip, a security expert in the West African sub-region.
Quoting a private source, Brant revealed that the Christmas Day air strikes in Sokoto could be the beginning of many more to follow.
Recall that U.S war Secretary, Pete Hegseth, on Friday morning said that more strikes would follow what happened on Thursday.
There are reports that the airstrikes failed to hit targets despite President Donald Trump describing them as powerful and very deadly.
However, the security expert added that the actual damage inflicted by the strikes remains mostly unknown.
Meanwhile the Nigerian government, through the Minister of Foreign Affairs, had claimed to have provided the intelligence that led to the attack.
Quoting a private source, Brant wrote, “Several strikes were launched, but most of the individuals and groups targeted were missed, and the actual damage inflicted remains mostly unknown.”
He said there would be more strikes in coming days as plans are already in motion.
“This was likely a symbolic start to official U.S. operations in Nigeria, which began on Christmas Day. The operational results of the strikes are not significant, but much is expected soon, not only in the northwest but in the northeast as well.
“The coming strikes are also expected to be carried out by an American UAV, probably an MQ-9 Reaper drone.”
‘US missed targeted individuals, groups in first strikes’ – Security expert
