Topic: Hellfire Missiles

Congressman Eric Burlison shared military footage from a Reaper drone showing a Hellfire missile appearing to bounce off an unidentified flying object. Former intelligence officer Lou Elizondo noted that such a kinetic strike should have been destructive, but the missile was instead redirected. The footage was recorded during U.S. airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, raising national security concerns about the nature of these objects.

Conflicting reports surround the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. While some Western media claim a bomb was planted in his room months in advance, Iranian authorities and Al Jazeera report he was killed by a short-range projectile fired from outside the building. The hosts suggest the "planted bomb" story might be a disinformation campaign to hide the use of advanced missile technology.

The Biden administration plans to provide Ukraine with advanced drones capable of carrying Hellfire missiles. Former Pentagon official Andrew Exum notes that the level of U.S. military support has reached a "high watermark" compared to previous conflicts like the Syrian civil war. The hosts argue that the U.S. is sending older equipment to justify ordering new replacements from the military-industrial complex.

The U.S. military's final missile strike in the Afghan war, initially called a righteous strike by the Biden administration, reportedly killed ten civilians including seven children. Investigative reports indicate the target, Zomari Ahmadi, was an aid worker loading water canisters rather than an ISIS operative loading explosives. General Mark Milley defended the intelligence behind the strike despite evidence from the ground contradicting the military's claims.

The Pentagon reportedly used an R9X Hellfire missile, known as the "ninja bomb," to target the mastermind of the Kabul airport bombing. This specific munition does not explode but instead deploys six large blades to shred the target upon impact, minimizing collateral damage. The strike occurred in the Nangarhar province, though geographic definitions of the Khorasan region vary.

A Lockheed Martin Hellfire missile intended for NATO drills in Europe was accidentally shipped to Havana, Cuba, in 2014. The sensitive military technology traveled from Florida to Spain, then to Germany, before being loaded onto an Air France flight to Paris and ultimately Havana. US officials have spent over a year attempting to recover the misplaced hardware from the Cuban government.

Senator McCain cites "Twitter and Facebook traffic" as evidence of a direct threat to the U.S. homeland. The hosts discuss how NATO members are being pressured to increase their GDP spending to 2%, which they claim will flow directly to U.S. defense contractors like Boeing and Raytheon for more Hellfire missiles.

NBC News airs a graphic interview with a former drone operator, Brandon Bryant, who describes watching a target bleed out in high resolution. Bryant details the "accomplishments" listed on his discharge papers, which include 1,626 people killed during his missions. The segment explores the sociopathic nature of remote warfare and the psychological toll on operators.

British media reports that Prince Harry, nicknamed "Big H" by his comrades, successfully eliminated a Taliban commander during a missile strike from an Apache helicopter. The hosts criticize the "sappy" and "sickening" nature of the coverage, suggesting it serves to glamorize the conflict and distract from other domestic news.

Imran Khan leads protests in Pakistan against U.S. drone strikes, which he claims are fueling extremism. The hosts discuss the lack of accountability in drone warfare, noting that private companies or individuals could potentially deploy armed drones for "industrial warfare" without clear attribution.

A satirical segment titled "Win, Lose, or Drone" covers recent strikes in Yemen that killed the son of Anwar al-Awlaki and Al-Qaeda's "chief media officer." The discussion shifts to the first drone flight in the United States, featuring a Shadow UAV built by Textron Systems. These newer drones feature larger fuselages designed to carry surveillance equipment and Hellfire missiles for domestic use.

The escalation of US drone strikes in Northwest Pakistan and Yemen is reported, with five strikes occurring in a single week. The hosts describe the physical characteristics of the drones and the "Hellfire" missiles used, noting the lack of public outcry over the ongoing aerial warfare.