There's a new and deadly weapon in Iraq, the "lob bomb." This bomb is a rocket-fired improvised mortar that can be detonated by cell phone. Constructed with hundreds of pounds of explosives packed into propane tanks, "lob bombs" can be made with commonly available materials. While few US soldiers have been killed in combat from such a weapon, "lob bombs" pose a great threat. They are essentially flying IEDs and can be launched from close range. They are often fired by individuals operating out of vehicles. Weapons like these aren't just a threat to US soldiers and Iraqis, they also are potential tools of domestic terrorists.
One trend largely unnoticed in terrorist TTPs is the growth of niche weapon strategies and platforms. "Lob bombs," explosively formed penetrators, and the usage of combat snipers for propaganda effects are all examples of niche weapons and strategies. I haven't noticed any memorable terrorist TTPs in Afghanistan, although Al Qaeda's usage of a fake TV crew to kill Ahmad Shah Massoud in 2001 is demonstrative of their continuing usage of operational and tactical deception.
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