US Christmas Day Strikes Nigeria: What We Know About Targets, Timing, Strategy

• US launched Christmas Day strikes in northwest Nigeria, targeting ISIS bases, with approval from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
• US African Command reported multiple casualties, but precise targets among Nigeria's armed groups remain unidentified by both nations.
• Analysts question the choice of Sokoto state, where "bandits" are more prevalent than jihadists, unlike the northeast's main insurgency.
• The timing on Christmas Day, following Trump's "genocide of Christians" claims, raises questions about the operation's underlying agenda.
• More strikes are anticipated, as officials from both the US and Nigeria have indicated.

Why It Matters: US Christmas Day strikes in Nigeria spark debate over targets, timing, and strategic rationale.