In a covert operation earlier this year, the United States employed a secretive weapon known as the AGM-114 R9X hellfire missile, also dubbed the "ninja bomb" or "Ginsu," to eliminate Abu Baqr al-Saadi, the leader of the Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah. This missile, as reported by military media outlet C4ISRNET, differs from conventional weapons as it does not contain a warhead or explode upon impact.

Instead, seconds before hitting its target, the AGM-114 R9X unleashes a deadly ring of blades, capable of tearing through over 100 pounds of metal, as revealed by sources cited in the Wall Street Journal. The missile found its mark when it plowed through the roof of the vehicle in which al-Saadi was located in Baghdad, resulting in an explosion that would have been more significant had it contained a warhead.

The use of the AGM-114 R9X is part of the U.S.'s strategy to minimize civilian casualties while still reaching high-value targets, according to sources within the Wall Street Journal. In the case of al-Saadi, U.S. officials believed he was deliberately embedding himself in crowds in Baghdad for protection.

Although the exact number of times the U.S. has employed this unique weapon remains undisclosed, the AGM-114 R9X has been used in the past to eliminate prominent figures. In 2022, it was deployed to eliminate Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, while in 2019, terrorist co-conspirator Jamal al-Badawi met the same fate.

The U.S.'s deployment of the AGM-114 R9X is part of a broader, "multitiered" campaign targeting Iranian-backed militias throughout the Middle East. These actions have been prompted by recent hostilities in the region, including the Kataib Hezbollah attack in January that claimed the lives of three U.S. troops stationed in Jordan.

The region has seen increased tension since the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist group launched an attack on Israel on October 7, claiming the lives of over 1,200 civilians. In response, Israel has undertaken a significant counteroffensive against Hamas in an effort to eliminate the group from the area.

As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, the use of unconventional weapons like the AGM-114 R9X highlights the evolving tactics employed by the United States, as well as the complex geopolitical dynamics shaping the region.