Experts say a likely option in the operation to take down the Al Qaeda leader was the highly secretive Hellfire R9X — know by various nicknames, including the “knife bomb”
Officials said the Al Qaeda leader was killed while he stood on a balcony at his home in downtown Kabul.
Although US officials have not publicly confirmed which variant of the Hellfire was used, experts and others familiar with counterterrorism operations said a likely option was the highly secretive Hellfire R9X — know by various nicknames, including the “knife bomb” or the "flying Ginsu." More than 100,000 Hellfire missiles have been sold to the US and other countries, according to Ryan Brobst, an analyst at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, a Washington think tank.
In this case, the CIA opted for a drone strike. And while the CIA generally doesn’t confirm its counterterrorism missions and closely guards information about strikes it conducts, US government officials have said that two Hellfire missiles were fired at the balcony of the building where al Zawahiri was living in Kabul.
“One of their utilities is in opening up vehicles and other obstructions to get to the target without having to use an explosive warhead,” he said.Less than a year ago, a US drone strike — using a more conventional Hellfire missile — struck a white Toyota Corolla sedan in a Kabul neighbourhood and killed 10 civilians around and near the car, including seven children.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
US takes out Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri in 'successful' Afghanistan counterterrorism operationThe U.S. conducted a 'successful' counterterrorism mission over the weekend taking out a significant Al Qaeda target Ayman Al Zawahiri in Afghanistan, intelligence sources said Monday.
Leer más »
US Strike Killed Top Al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri: SourcesPresident Joe Biden was set to address the nation Monday to announce that a U.S. strike over the weekend in Afghanistan killed top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, sources told NBC News. The White House said there were no civilian casualties. The Associated Press was first to report on the killing, also citing sources. Biden planned to speak from the balcony…
Leer más »
US kills al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in drone strike in AfghanistanThe United States killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Leer más »
‘Landmark operation’: U.S. kills al Qaeda Leader
Leer más »
US kills top Al Qaeda leader Ayman al ZawahiriPresident Joe Biden confirms US air strike in Afghanistan killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri, saying 'justice has been delivered'
Leer más »