IS 'Moron' Brings US Air Strike On Himself

An Islamic State "moron" boasting on social media brought about an American air strike which destroyed one of the jihadist group's facilities, says a US Air Force commander.

Gen Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, said airmen in Florida dispatched the war planes after noticing an Islamic State militant bragging online about their fighting abilities.

"The [airmen are] combing through social media and they see some moron standing at this command," Gen Carlisle said, reports the Air Force Times.

"And in some social media, open forum, bragging about command and control capabilities. And these guys go, 'Ah, we got an in.'"

After verifying the militant's claims, the airmen found the building and destroyed it with joint attack direct munitions (JDAMs), said Gen Carlisle.

JDAMs are guidance devices installed in the tail of munitions that use a navigation system to turn bombs into smart weapons.

"About 22 hours later through that very building, three JDAMS take that entire building out," Gen Carlisle said in Monday's speech sponsored by the Air Force Association in Arlington, Virginia.

"Through social media. It was a post on social media. Bombs on target in 22 hours. It was incredible work, and incredible airmen doing this sort of thing."

Gen Carlisle did not specify the date or whereabouts of the air strike, nor the social media network used by the militant.