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Taliban leader 'likely killed' in US drone strike
A US military drone strike in Pakistan has likely killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and another combatant in Pakistan, according to a US official.
Authorised by US President Barack Obama, the strike took place at about 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT), the official said, which would have placed it late on Friday night in the target area.
Multiple US drones targeted the men as they rode in a vehicle in a remote area in Pakistan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal, the official added.
The Pentagon confirmed that the US targeted Mansoor in a statement released on Saturday.
"We are still assessing the results of the strike and will provide more information as it becomes available," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said on Saturday in a statement, which did not address Mansour's condition.
"Mansour has been an obstacle to peace and reconciliation between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, prohibiting Taliban leaders from participating in peace talks with the Afghan government that could lead to an end to the conflict."
A US military drone strike in Pakistan has likely killed Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor and another combatant in Pakistan, according to a US official.
Authorised by US President Barack Obama, the strike took place at about 6 a.m. EDT (1000 GMT), the official said, which would have placed it late on Friday night in the target area.
Multiple US drones targeted the men as they rode in a vehicle in a remote area in Pakistan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, southwest of the town of Ahmad Wal, the official added.
The Pentagon confirmed that the US targeted Mansoor in a statement released on Saturday.
"We are still assessing the results of the strike and will provide more information as it becomes available," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said on Saturday in a statement, which did not address Mansour's condition.
"Mansour has been an obstacle to peace and reconciliation between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, prohibiting Taliban leaders from participating in peace talks with the Afghan government that could lead to an end to the conflict."