US Drops Most Powerful Conventional Bomb in Afghanistan
The United States dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb against the Islamic State (ISIS) in eastern Afghanistan. Pentagon said this is the first time it unleashed the weapon — referred to as the "mother of all bombs" — in combat, while arms enthusiasts hailed its use as the future of American warfare.
Called the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB), the bomb can obliterate everything within a 1,000-yard radius. It was dropped Thursday, April 13, on a cave complex in the Achin district of Nangarhar province where heavy fighting has occurred between Afghan forces and ISIS fighters.
Due to its massive size, the 30-foot long, 21,600-pound bomb had to be released from an MC-130 cargo plane. It is guided to its target by global positioning satellites and has controllable fins for maneuverability. The bomb explodes in the air, creating air pressure that can make tunnels and other structures collapse.
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Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, justified the use of the weapon.
"As [ISIS'] losses have mounted, they are using [improvised explosive devices], bunkers and tunnels to thicken their defense," he said. "This is the right munition to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against [ISIS]."
Ismail Shinwari, governor of Achin district who saw the bomb in action remarked, "The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area."
He added that the attack was carried out in a remote mountainous area with no homes nearby and every precaution was made to avoid civilian casualties.
The bomb cost $16 million and took more than $300 million for Dynetics Inc. to develop.
"This is a reflection of our future in Afghanistan, and it's the best tool we have with the reduced footprint," said Jason Dempsey, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. "This is the new normal for Afghanistan."
