+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

US-led warplanes are going after ISIS' most devastating weapon

Aug 3, 2015, 19:51 IST

A man walks past the site of a car bomb attack in Baghdad's Sadr CityWissm al-Okili/Reuters

US-led coalition forces launched a successful airstrike last weekend against a crucial ISIS explosives facility.

Advertisement

The strikes destroyed an ISIS facility near Makhmur, Iraq, that was used to produce vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs). These car bombs are one of the main weapons that ISIS uses to devastating effect across both Iraq and Syria.

"These strikes, conducted in coordination with the Government of Iraq, will help reduce the ability of Daesh to utilize their weapon of choice - VBIEDs," US Brig. Gen. Kevin Killea said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. "Daesh VBIEDs are responsible for many attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and atrocities committed against Iraqi civilians."

ISIS VBIEDs are advanced enough to produce even macabre amazement in their potential victims. One Baghdad policeman told Der Spiegel that these car bombs "were so sophisticated that they destroyed everything; there was nothing left of the car and nothing to investigate how the explosive charge was assembled."

Aside from smaller car bombs, ISIS has also perfected the use of multi-ton truck and Humvee bombs as military weapons. Among the group's favorite tactics are filling stolen armored US Humvees to decimate static defenses of the Iraqi Security Forces.

Advertisement

NOW WATCH: Inside the dangerous life of Mexican drug lord 'El Chapo'

Please enable Javascript to watch this video
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article