On February 23, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) carried out a precision airstrike in northwest Syria, eliminating Muhammed Yusuf Ziya Talay, a senior military leader of the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
The strike is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. and its regional partners to disrupt terrorist groups’ plans to carry out attacks against civilians, as well as U.S., allied, and partner military forces.
“As we have stated before, we will relentlessly pursue these terrorists to protect our homeland, as well as U.S., allied, and partner personnel in the region,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.
The operation utilized the sophisticated R9X “Ninja” missile, which does not rely on explosives but instead deploys six blade-like projectiles upon impact, allowing for precise target elimination with minimal collateral damage.
The R9X “Ninja” missile, officially known as the AGM-114R9X, is a modified version of the Hellfire missile designed for precision strikes against high-value targets while minimizing collateral damage. Unlike conventional Hellfire variants, which rely on explosive warheads, the R9X features a kinetic impact system equipped with six extendable steel blades that deploy just before impact.
This unique design allows it to penetrate vehicles and buildings with lethal precision, targeting individuals without causing widespread destruction. Developed in secrecy and first used around 2017, the R9X has been deployed in multiple operations against terrorist leaders in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen, demonstrating its effectiveness in eliminating threats while reducing risks to civilians and surrounding infrastructure.
CENTCOM also released footage of an R9X strike on Jaafar al-Turki in northern Idlib, showing the missile hitting only the driver’s seat without causing any additional destruction. This marks the first time that video evidence of the R9X “Ninja” missile’s use has been publicly released, demonstrating its effectiveness in eliminating high-value targets while reducing risks to civilians and surrounding infrastructure.
