Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became the leader of al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden and was one of the planners of the September 11 attacks, was killed in the operation carried out by the USA in Afghanistan. It was alleged that Zawahiri was shot down with a so-called six-bladed ninja missile, the R9X Hellfire. While the features of the missile in question drew attention, experts commented that it was “a newer version of Hellfire”. Here are the details of the operation that the world is talking about…
Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, one of the most wanted terrorists in the world, was killed by the US in an operation in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul. The 71-year-old Zawahiri, who has been sought by the US for years as the main planner of the September 11 attacks, took over the leadership of Al Qaeda after Osama bin Laden. The death of Zawahiri, who took over the administration of Al Qaeda after Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan in 2011 by a US special operation, dealt a heavy blow to the organization.
STATEMENT FROM US PRESIDENT BIDEN
“Justice has been served and this terrorist leader is no more,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement at the White House. “No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and expel you.”
25 MILLION DOLLARS AWARDED AFTER SEPTEMBER 11
After the September 11 attacks in the USA, which shook the world in 2001, the details of the operation in which Zawahiri was killed, which intelligence agencies put a $ 25 million reward on his head, were also revealed.
LOCATED IN THE CAPITAL KABUL
After the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August last year, the CIA intensified its work in the country, receiving intelligence that Zawahiri had settled in a ‘safe house’ in the capital, Kabul.
HE WAS SHOOTED ON THE BALCONY OF HOME
While the button was pressed after the detection of Zawahiri’s house, it was stated that the al-Qaeda leader was killed on his balcony by “hellfire” missiles fired from US drones. It was learned that the al-Qaeda leader was killed and his family was not injured in the attack.
“R9X HELLFIRE USED TO KILL THE SICK”
US Central Command did not disclose the weapon used to carry out Zawahiri’s assassination.
However, according to military experts, this weapon; “Hellfire R9X Ninja” missile, which uses opening swords instead of explosives to take down high-profile targets.
A senior US official also said in an informal statement that the leader of the terrorist organization was hit by two Hellfire R9X missiles fired by a drone while walking on the balcony of his home.
It is stated that the R9X Hellfire ‘Ninja’ missile was used for similar attacks in the past.
“KILLS THE DRIVER, DOES NOT DAMAGE THE NEXT”
Speaking to the Daily Star, an expert pointed out that only one person was killed in the operation in question, and said, “They are really designed so that in theory, if the target is in the driver’s seat of the car, you can kill the driver, and if you do not harm the passenger next to him,” he said.
SIX-BLADED NINJA MISSILE: R9X HELLFIRE
The R9X carries 45kg of reinforced metal at its tip, with six extendable blades designed to shatter the target on impact without triggering an explosion that could be deadly to those nearby.
The R9X Hellfire missile has become one of the US military’s weapons of choice for precision assassinations, as it carries a lower risk of collateral damage.
Developed during the Obama presidency in 2011 amid concerns about the number of civilians killed in drone attacks in the Middle East, the ‘ninja’ missile is given such a nickname because it does not use an explosive warhead.
It is unclear how many R9X missiles the Pentagon has in its possession. The R9X is also not included in the 2022 budget requests for missile purchase.