U.S. military devloeps knife bombs to minimize civilian casualties

For story suggestions or custom animation requests, contact tips@. Visit to view News Direct’s complete archive of 3D news animations. RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN A report by the Wall Street Journal gives details of a missile developed by U.S. intelligence designed to attack targets while reducing civilian casualties. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Department of Defense have developed a missile called Hellfire R9X, designed to carry out precision strikes while minimizing collateral damage. The Hellfire R9X missile carries a payload of over 100 pounds of metal and six blades that spread before impact instead of an explosive warhead. Other Hellfire models carry explosives and can injure or kill any individual within its blast radius. The Journal reports that the Hellfire R9X has been used roughly six times in different attacks in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia. The R9X was also used on Feb 26, 2017, where it targeted and killed al-Qaeda deputy leader Abu Al-Khayr al-Masri during an attack in Syria. Photographs show the roof of al-Masri’s car with a hole in its roof and a broken windshield, but no severe collateral damage in the surrounding area. RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1. Visualization of Hellfire R9X 2. Comparison of Hellfire R9X and conventional Hellfire missiles 3. Countries where Hellfire R9X has been used 4. Hellfire R9X missile hits al-Qaeda deputy leader Abu Al-Khayr al-Masri VOICEOVER (in English): “According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. Department of Defense have developed a missile called Hellfire R9X, designed to carry out precision strikes while minimizing collateral damage.“ “The Hellfire R9X missile carries a payload of over 100 pounds of metal and six blades that spread before impact instead of an explosive warhead.“ “Other Hellfire models carry explosives and can injure or kill any individual within its blast radius.“ “The Journal reports that the Hellfire R9X has been used roughly six times in different attacks in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Somalia.“ “The R9X was also used on Feb 26, 2017, where it targeted and killed al-Qaeda deputy leader Abu Al-Khayr al-Masri during an attack in Syria. Photographs show the roof of al-Masri’s car with a hole in its roof and a broken windshield but no severe collateral damage in the surrounding area.“ SOURCES: The Wall Street Journal, Ars Technica *** ----------------------------------------­­---------------------------------------­-­---------------- Next Animation Studio’s News Direct service provides daily, high-quality, informative 3D news animations that fill in for missing footage and help viewers understand breaking news stories or in-depth features on science, technology, and health. Sign up for a free trial of News Direct’s news animations at To subscribe to News Direct or for more info, please visit: