The Islamic State's (ISIS) obsessive use of social media reportedly backfired after one militant's "selfie" taken outside a group headquarters' building triggered a devastating U.S. missile strike less than 24 hours later.
Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, says airmen from an intelligence unit based in Florida found and recognized the post, setting off a mission that wiped out the building 22 hours later,
Defense Tech reports.
"It was a post on social media to bombs on target in less than 24 hours," Carlisle said.
"Incredible work when you think about it."
Carlisle didn't reveal the building's location.
"The guys that were working down out of Hurlburt [Field, Florida] they’re combing through social media and they see some moron standing at this command," Carlisle said at a breakfast meeting host by the Air Force Association, Defense Tech reports.
The airmen are with the 361st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at Hurlburt, Defense Tech notes.
"And in some social media, open forum, bragging about the command and control capabilities for Daesh, ISIL. And these guys go: 'We got an in.'
"So they do some work, long story short, about 22 hours later through that very building, three [Joint Direct Attack Munitions] take that entire building out."
IGN.com reports it appears the post apparently was a "selfie" taken outside the ISIS headquarters building that led to the strike.
Defense Tech notes Carlisle's story offered "a broader picture into the intelligence gathering being done by Air Force intelligence specialists" in the United States even as
some critics say boots on the ground are what's needed in the fight against ISIS.
Carlisle warned, however, targets may not always be so easy to uncover, and suggested satellite communications will be a target for more advanced enemies and militaries in future conflicts, Defense Tech reports.
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