Taliban: Mansour killed in drone strike

  • 22/05/2016
Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour (Reuters)
Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour (Reuters)

Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been killed in a US drone strike, a senior commander has confirmed.

Mullah Abdul Rauf told The Associated Press that Mansour died in the strike late on Friday night (local time).

He says the strike took place "in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area".

The office of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani confirmed the strike but could not confirm Mansour's death.

Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, however, says that Mansour is "more than likely" dead.

Mansour formally led the Taliban after the death of the movement's founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar, was announced last year.

Mansour, Mullah Omar's deputy, concealed Mullah Omar's death for more than two years, and ran the Taliban in his name until the death was revealed by the Afghan government.

AP