US officials have confirmed that Osama bin Laden's second-in-command Ayman al Zawahiri was killed by two drone-fired missiles on Sunday.
Analysts believe they were a new variation of the hellfire missile called the R9X, which have been used in several other US assassination operations across the Middle East.
Usually launched from drones or helicopters, the R9X has a warhead loaded with half a dozen blades that can kill a target instantly, without causing an explosion or killing people around them.
How did the US find and kill him?
The CIA has confirmed that two missiles struck Ayman al Zawahiri's safehouse in Kabul's downtown Sherpur area at 6.18am local time on 31 July.
They were fired from a drone and hit him while he was standing on the balcony, but the precise nature of the missiles meant none of his relatives or any civilians were killed, a senior administration official said.
The CIA previously believed al Zawahiri was hiding in Pakistan but received intelligence in April that his wife and children had moved to Kabul using "terrorist tradecraft" that meant they went undetected.
After a period of surveillance, they were able to confirm he was also staying at the house.
Having watched him for several months, they established he never left the building, but often stood out on the balcony.
An operation was first proposed to President Joe Biden on 1 July, with a detailed one presented to him on 25 July taking "every step to minimise civilian casualties".
Mr Biden...
Read Full Story: https://news.sky.com/story/what-are-the-high-tech-precision-missiles-used-to-kill-al-qaedas-most-wanted-12664039
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