Open-source intelligence analysts say a significant number of U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles fired into northern Nigeria on December 25 failed to explode, raising questions about both the operation and the reliability of one of Washington’s most widely used precision weapons. Analysts say the shape, components and markings of the debris match those seen in previous incidents involving unexploded Tomahawks. Possible factors raised by analysts include aging stockpiles, technical malfunctions, environmental damage to wiring, or interference such as GPS jamming. During U.S. strikes on Syria in 2017 and 2018, numerous missiles reportedly failed to reach their targets, either being intercepted or veering off course. During the 1991 Gulf War, when the Tomahawk was still relatively new, its real-world performance reportedly lagged behind official claims.

Source: The Guardian December 28, 2025 19:36 UTC