In a significant development in the war on ISIL the US has dropped the mother of all bombs in Afghanistan. At precisely 7pm, local time an enormous bomb called the “MOAB” (Massive ordinance air blast bomb was dropped on what was believed a strategic target and an ISIL stronghold in Afghanistan.
The enormous bomb dropped in Afghanistan was a GBU-43/B MOAB which was nicknamed the mother of all bombs weighing 21,000 pounds and guided by GPS. The MOAB happens to be the most powerful bomb in the American military arsenal.
The enormous bomb in Afghanistan was dropped by an MC-130 aircraft which took off from a base stationed in Afghanistan. The operation was administered by Air Force Special Operations Command as stated by Pentagon spokesman Adam Stump who was speaking to CNN. Officials said it was an ISIS stronghold.
Afghanistan is known to be populated by ISIS militants and the strike was the first time the US used the MOAB, the 21000 pound enormous bomb dropped in Afghanistan. It was the first time the mother of all bombs was used in combat.
In a statement issued late Thursday, Press secretary Sean Spicer declared that the US had used “A large “large, powerful and accurately-delivered weapon” with the intention of disrupting militant movement in Afghanistan.”
“The United States takes the fight against ISIS very seriously and in order to defeat the group we must deny them operational space, which we did," Spicer said. The strike "targeted a system of tunnels and cave that ISIS fighters use to move around freely."
According to Pentagon officials, the bomb was dropped on a cave complex which was used by fighters who were also affiliated to the terrorist group ISIS in Achin district of Nangarhar which was near to the border of Pakistan.
The Pentagon revealed that the mission had been planned months earlier however they did not reveal if the mission was actually planned during the Obama administration. Speaking to reporters, General John Nicholson said “This is the right munitions to reduce these obstacles and maintain the momentum of our offensive against ISIS,”
Speaking to reporters President Donald Trump said “We are very proud of our military after another successful event”. We have incredible leaders in our military and this was a very successful mission’.