Skirting Laws, Iran Buys Bomb Parts From US Firms

Record number of fatalitles linked to EFP attacks

(NEWSER) - A sophisticated bomb that the US military has tracked to Iran was used in a record number of attacks on American-led troops last month, the New York Times reports. The bombs—called explosively formed penetrators—fire a semi-molten copper slug that can break through the armor of a Humvee. They were responsible for 99 strikes and a third of the 69 combat fatalities in July, according to the military. More»

Secret technology offers high hopes

(NEWSER) - After using lasers, projectiles, and jammers in the fight against roadside bombs, the Pentagon last week unveiled a secret new weapon designed to defeat IEDs: radio waves. The new weapon, a beam of radio-frequency energy, can detonate IEDs from a distance and could potentially be used against other types of warheads as well. Few further details are available, because military researchers are keeping the highly classified technology under wraps, Popular Mechanics reports. More»

(NEWSER) - The war in Afghanistan is getting deadlier for both coalition troops and Afghan forces, reports James Dao in the New York Times, mostly because of an increase in homemade bomb attacks—465 in May alone. The IEDs—improvised explosive devices—are getting more sophisticated as well as more common, and are spread through the country via a complex network of bombmakers and distributors. The Pentagon is sending thousands of robots, dogs, and IED-resistant vehicles—but also targeting the networks themselves. More»

Ahmadinejad reports new test of arms that could reach Israel

(AP) - Iran test-fired a new advanced missile today with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims. The reported launch comes two days after Barack Obama said he would seek deeper international sanctions against Iran if it shunned US attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program, reports the AP. "It landed precisely on the target," said the Iranian president. More»

Insurgents shift to smaller devices as security tightens

(NEWSER) - Small explosives dubbed "sticky IEDs" are contributing to a growing feeling of unease in Baghdad, the New York Times reports. The fist-sized bombs attached to magnets or adhesives are hard to detect, easy for a furtive bomber to put in place and have become the weapon of choice for militants thwarted by tighter security in their efforts to plant bigger bombs. More»