Officials claim the 'Mother Of All Bombs' killed 38 IS militants, ruling out any civilian casualties
US President Donald Trump
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Jalalabad: The US military's largest non-nuclear bomb killed at least 36 militants as it decimated a deep tunnel complex of the Islamic State group, Afghan officials said yesterday, ruling out any civilian casualties.
The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb — better known as the "Mother Of All Bombs" — hit IS hideouts in Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday. "As a result of the bombing, key Daesh (IS) hideouts and deep tunnel complex were destroyed and 36 IS fighters were killed," the defence ministry said in a statement.
US President Donald Trump had earlier called the mission "very, very successful". The Afghan presidential palace said precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties. The huge bomb has a blast yield equivalent to 11 tons of TNT, and the weapon was originally designed as much to intimidate foes as to clear broad areas.
Afghan villagers flee from a village near the site of USâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088bombing in Achin district; (inset) A video grab shows bomb striking ISISâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088hideouts. Pics/AFP
Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan, is a hotbed of IS militancy. US forces have conducted a number of air strikes on jihadist bases in the area since August last year. IS, notorious for its reign of terror in Syria and Iraq, has been making inroads into Afghanistan in recent years.
Voices
Donald Trump, US President
'We are so proud of our military, it was another successful event'
Esmail Shinwari, Achin governor
'The explosion was the biggest I have ever seen. Towering flames engulfed the area'
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