IEDs

Crude hidden explosives

IEDs is the plural of IED, an abbreviation for improvised explosive device—a homemade bomb constructed from available materials rather than manufactured ordnance.

The term became prominent during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, where such devices caused significant coalition casualties: The convoy was hit by an IED.

IEDs range from crude pipe bombs to sophisticated remotely detonated weapons.

construction

pressure plate

Weight-activated switch mechanism

triggering mechanismDevice that initiates function
detonatorExplosive initiation device
explosive chargePrimed quantity for detonation

remote control · wiring · timer · blast radius · fragmentation · shaped charge · concealment · disguise · container · artillery shell

warfare

roadside bomb

Concealed explosive targeting vehicles

insurgentOne who revolts
AfghanistanCentral Asian landlocked nation
IraqMiddle Eastern republic

convoy · patrol · ambush · detonation · shrapnel · casualties · counterinsurgency · military · combat · guerrilla

countermeasures

detection

Act of finding something

disposalAct of throwing away
EODWorkday cutoff acronym
bomb squadExplosive ordnance responders

jamming · robot · disarmament · neutralization · defusing · metal detector · sniffer dog · intelligence · surveillance · armored vehicle

terrorism

attack

Aggressive act against another

civilianNon-military person
marketplaceVenue for commerce
public spaceArea open to everyone

mass casualty · indiscriminate · terror · bombing · extremist · radicalization · cell · plot · target · security threat

Categories

Weaponryrifles, shotguns, grenades, missiles, bombs
military engineeringengineers, combat engineer, combat engineers, sappers, sapper
military suppliesammunition, ammo, rifles, bombs, bandages
ammunitionammunition, ammo, bullet, bullets, shells
Explosivesbomb, dynamite, grenade, TNT, C-4

Opposites

manufacture and standardization

IEDssmart bombs

Self-directing precision weapons

artillery shells · cruise missiles · guided missiles

warfare context

IEDsconventional weapons

Non-WMD military equipment

nuclear weapons

Phrases

IED attacksHomemade bomb assaults

Family

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Timeless · Concrete · Negative · Rated PG-13