US defence officials believe ISIL’s leader in Afghanistan and Pakistan has been killed in an American drone strike.
Hafiz Saeed Khan is said to have died on July 26 along with his senior commanders and fighters in Nangharhar province.
His death, announced by Omar Zakhilwal, the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan, was later confirmed by an US defence official although no formal announcement has been made.
It would strike a blow to ISIL’s efforts to expand its control in the region where the group is challenging fellow insurgents, the Taliban.
Head of Islamic State in Afghanistan killed in U.S. drone strike https://t.co/1M6P3zNksL— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) 12 août 2016
Khan’s death would also mark the second US killing of a prominent militant in the region within months. In May, a US drone killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a strike in Pakistan.
Khan has been reported dead before. Last year, Afghan intelligence agents claimed he had been killed, but the report was never confirmed.
