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Thread recording every known #R9X Hellfire (aka #NinjaMissile & #FlyingGinsu) strike.
The AGM-114R-9X is an inert variant of the AGM-114 "Hellfire" developed by #Lockheed that is meant to reduce risk of civilian casualties while using pop-out blades to maintain lethality.
The AGM-114R-9X is an inert variant of the AGM-114 "Hellfire" developed by #Lockheed that is meant to reduce risk of civilian casualties while using pop-out blades to maintain lethality.
The #R9X has received much attention since a @WSJ article by @glubold & @wstrobel last year where it was said to have been used "about a half-dozen times" against high level terrorist targets in " #Libya #Syria #Iraq #Yemen & #Somalia" https://www.wsj.com/articles/secret-u-s-missile-aims-to-kill-only-terrorists-not-nearby-civilians-11557403411
Its extreme precision, exotic nature, and increasingly visible usage by what is presumed to be #JSOC and #CIA according to a piece by @FranticGoat for @thewarzonewire have kept it in the spotlight though. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/34146/this-is-our-best-look-yet-at-the-shadowy-hellfire-missile-with-pop-out-sword-blades
This thread will now lay out known and suspected #R9X strikes in chronological order.
1st strike was on 2/26/2017 and killed #AlQaeda Deputy Abdullah al-Rahman (Abu Khayr al-Masri) in a vehicle along with another passenger in al-Mastumeh, #Idlib, #Syria.
1st strike was on 2/26/2017 and killed #AlQaeda Deputy Abdullah al-Rahman (Abu Khayr al-Masri) in a vehicle along with another passenger in al-Mastumeh, #Idlib, #Syria.
2nd confirmed strike was on 1/1/2019 and killed veteran #AlQaeda member Jamal al-Badawi in Ma'rib, #Yemen
Bardawi was one of the convicted perpetrators of the 2000 USS Cole Bombing.
The strike was reported in the original @WSJ story and no imagery is available of the aftermath
Bardawi was one of the convicted perpetrators of the 2000 USS Cole Bombing.
The strike was reported in the original @WSJ story and no imagery is available of the aftermath
3rd confirmed strike was on 12/3/2019 and killed Algerian #HTS Red Bands trainer Abu Ahmed al-Muhajir while riding in a vehicle through the town of Atmeh in #Idlib, #Syria.
A passenger appears to have been killed as well. This is the last confirmed #R9X strike on an #HTS target
A passenger appears to have been killed as well. This is the last confirmed #R9X strike on an #HTS target
4th confirmed strike was on 12/22/2019 and killed Jordanian #AlQaeda veteran & #HurrasAlDin officer Bilal Khuraisat (Abu Khadija al-Urdani) while driving alone near the town of Termanin in #Idlib, #Syria.
Imagery of the roof appears to indicate the car was struck at least twice
Imagery of the roof appears to indicate the car was struck at least twice
5th confirmed strike was on 1/12/2020 and killed Pakistani national & #Taliban financial officer Muhibullah Sher Wali Khan while he was driving through the Imam Saheb District in #Kunduz, #Afghanistan
This is the first and only confirmed #R9X strike in #Afghanistan
This is the first and only confirmed #R9X strike in #Afghanistan
6th confirmed #R9X strike was on 6/14/2020. It killed #HurrasAlDin Leader Khalid al-Aruri & lieutenant Bilal Sana'ani in a vehicle in #Idlib, #Syria
Imagery of the vehicle & missile debris indicate the car was struck 3 times
Aruri reportedly died of injuries 10 days later
Imagery of the vehicle & missile debris indicate the car was struck 3 times
Aruri reportedly died of injuries 10 days later
Now, there are 2 suspected strikes.
1st is a strike reported by @DailySabah that took place on 7/24/2019 and targeted a car in Northern #Iraq allegedly occupied by a "senior" #PKK member and his "bodyguards"
https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2019/07/25/turkish-military-kills-2-terrorist-masterminds-of-irbil-attack?gallery_image=undefined#big
1st is a strike reported by @DailySabah that took place on 7/24/2019 and targeted a car in Northern #Iraq allegedly occupied by a "senior" #PKK member and his "bodyguards"
https://www.dailysabah.com/war-on-terror/2019/07/25/turkish-military-kills-2-terrorist-masterminds-of-irbil-attack?gallery_image=undefined#big
I have serious doubts about this strike being #R9X due to the secrecy around #R9X and this strike being carried out by #Turkey
However, the imagery bears a striking resemblance to other #R9X strikes with the visible (blade?) tears through the roof and lack of visible burns
However, the imagery bears a striking resemblance to other #R9X strikes with the visible (blade?) tears through the roof and lack of visible burns
These signatures are not on their own indicative of this strike being #R9X, but they do heavily suggest an inert warhead of some kind was used -- one potentially similar to #R9X with its employment of blades to increase lethality in the absence of an explosive payload.
2nd suspected strike was on 6/20/2020 and killed suspected former #IS Governor of Wilayat #Raqqa Fayz al-Akal (who was using the name Ahmad al-Darwish) while riding a motorcycle through the town of al-Bab in #Aleppo, #Syria
The imagery is too graphic to show more than the bike
The imagery is too graphic to show more than the bike
While the evidence isn't conclusive, I believe there is a stronger case for this being #R9X
Damage to the bike (and frankly the body) is far less than what would be expected. There is little burn scarring around the bike, and the circumstances of the strike make more sense
Damage to the bike (and frankly the body) is far less than what would be expected. There is little burn scarring around the bike, and the circumstances of the strike make more sense
The @WSJ story also cites strikes in #Libya #Iraq & #Somalia that we have no data for, so please pass along any reports/imagery of inert warhead strikes in those areas or others
I will continue to add to this thread as strikes occur
Please let me know if I made any mistakes
I will continue to add to this thread as strikes occur
Please let me know if I made any mistakes
Much of what I laid out is compiled from others & @FranticGoat has done great, extensive reporting on this for @thewarzonewire
h/t @AnalystMick @N_Waters89 @Elizrael @Charles_Lister @Natsecjeff @SimNasr @SchoenbornTrent @NotWoofers @WithinSyriaBlog @obretix @putintintin1
h/t @AnalystMick @N_Waters89 @Elizrael @Charles_Lister @Natsecjeff @SimNasr @SchoenbornTrent @NotWoofers @WithinSyriaBlog @obretix @putintintin1
cc @lprubin73 @EllemanIISS @JennaEJordan @AmySchenk4 @TheDEWLine @Jake_Hanrahan @MountainGuerri1 @LibyaAlHurraTV @FoxallResearch @MollyWeston16
