War on terror

US Conducted at Least Three Strikes With Secret Sword Blade Hellfire Missile This Year – Report

Various media outlets have fuelled speculation that the US possesses a shadowy version of its Hellfire missile known as AIM-114R9X with the reports suggesting the projectile was allegedly used in an attack on a member of an al-Qaeda* outfit in Yemen this January. According to reports, it has also been repeatedly used in Syria over the last week.

The secret US Hellfire missile AGM-114R9X, which reportedly has six swing-out sword-like blades instead of an explosive warhead in the centre, has been used at least three times this year. Two of the icidents were carried in Syria on 3 and 7 December, according to a report by the Drive.

While the extent of the AGM-114R9X’s use still remains rather secretive, according to several outlets, it was reportedly used back in February 2017 to target al-Qaeda's* deputy chief, Ahmed Hasan Abu Khayr al-Masri, in northwestern Syria. The pictures of his seriously damaged vehicle towards the front passenger side severely puzzled experts and the general public at the time, but now many believe that it was a ninja-like projectile that killed al-Masri.