JTFMax:

The United States killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri (71) in a drone attack over the weekend. This was confirmed by US President Joe Biden (79) in a television speech on Tuesday.

What initially surprised observers was that there was no report of an explosion in Kabul. And that indicates the use of a "Hellfire R9X". This is a true marvel of American military technology.

Because: In fact, the R9X (weight 45 kilograms) does not explode but releases the six knife-like blades at the moment of impact, killing the target person, the environment remains unaffected. So there are no explosions, pressure waves, or burns, reports India Today.

At most, cracks form at the point of impact, and parts of the projectile remain. Terrorist leader Al-Zawahiri - cut up by a US missile!

The "Wall Street Journal" described the rocket last year: The six blades are still inside the missile when it is launched and only trigger seconds before impact. Then, they snap outward in a flash - and "shred everything in their path."

The R9X was developed during the Obama administration - to avoid civilian casualties in the case of attacks from the air.

Shooting is also possible from the ground.

The rocket can be launched from drones, helicopters and helicopters, airplanes, and even from Humvees (military version of the "Hummer"). Thus, ground troops can also use precision weapons.

The minimum distance to the intended target is 500 meters. Depending on the variant, the R9X can hit and disable targets up to eleven kilometers away.

Their blades snap outward in a flash, shredding their target. Three Hellfire R9X missiles on an American AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter 

The first R9X was deployed in March 2017. Back then to kill al Qaeda leader Abu al-Khayr al-Masri. The gun was fired from a drone. Al-Masri was driving in Syria when the Hellfire hit him.

This is how the attack on the terror boss went.

The attack on the al-Qaeda boss went accordingly: US President Joe Biden (79) announced that US secret services tracked down al-Sawahiri in a house in downtown Kabul, where he and his family were hiding.

The US President continued: "After carefully reviewing the clear and compelling evidence of his whereabouts, I have authorized a precision strike that will remove him from the battlefield once and for all."

According to official information, two rockets were shot down. In addition, Al-Zawahiri was hit when he stepped onto the house's balcony. The terror leader died at 6:18 am Sunday.

"The mission was a success," said Biden. "None of his relatives were injured, and there were no civilian casualties."