US Uses Blade-Edged 'Ninja Missiles' in Afghan IS Airstrikes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 28th (local time) that the United States used an ultra-precision "Ninja missile" when it conducted airstrikes against the Islamic militant group "Islamic State Khorasan" (IS-K) in retaliation for the bomb attack at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan.

According to the report, the modified Hellfire missile "AGM-114R9X" was used in this airstrike.

This missile, called the "R9X," is characterized by having no explosive warhead; instead, it is equipped with six blades that deploy just before impact with the target. Because it does not explode upon impact, it minimizes collateral damage.

The United States carried out a drone strike targeting IS-K the day after the series of bomb attacks at Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport on the 26th.

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Hank Taylor announced at a press conference that two senior IS-K members were killed and one was injured in the airstrike, with no civilian casualties.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees Afghanistan, stated in a press release the previous day, "A counterterrorism operation targeting one IS-K planner was conducted with a drone strike in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan," and added, "The target was killed." Considering this, the number of deaths and injuries each increased by one.

Department of Defense spokesperson John Kirby explained the increase in casualties compared to the initial announcement, saying, "As additional information and assessments came in, we recognized there were other deaths and injuries," and added, "Battle damage assessments sometimes take time, and we will disclose transparently once it becomes clearer."

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced additional airstrikes. In a statement that day, he emphasized that the airstrike on the 27th was not the last, saying, "We will continue to track down and make those involved in these heinous attacks pay the price."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.