
The R9X Hellfire missile has become one of the US military's favored weapons for precision assassinations as it carries a lower risk of collateral damage.ĭeveloped during Obama's presidency in 2011 amid concerns over the number of civilians being killed in drone strike campaigns in the Middle East, the 'ninja' missile is so nicknamed because it foregoes the use of an explosive warhead.

In fact, the RX9 was considered when plans were being drawn up to permanently take down the 9/11 mastermind. It was the United State's most significant strike against al Qaeda since the killing of bin Laden in 2011. President Biden said that there other injuries as a result of Saturday's strike. Osama Bin-Laden's former number two was staying in the home with members of his family. The official described the al-Zawahiri assassination as a 'precise tailored airstrike.' Images from that scene showed the twisted remains of a motorcycle strewn across the ground, suggesting the missile scored a direct hit on its target

