The head of Islamic State in Afghanistan, Abdul Hasib, was killed in an operation on April 27 conducted jointly by Afghan and US Special Forces in the eastern province of Nangarhar, US and Afghan officials said on Sunday. Last month, a Pentagon spokesman said Hasib had probably been killed during the raid by US and Afghan Special Forces in Nangarhar during which two US army Rangers were killed, but prior to Sunday’s announcement there had been no confirmation. The local affiliate of Islamic State, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), after an old name for the region that includes Afghanistan, has been active since 2015, fighting both the Taliban as well as Afghan and US forces. It is believed to maintain links with the main Islamic State movement in Iraq and Syria but has considerable operational independence. The US military statement said 35 Islamic State fighters and several high ranking commanders were killed in the April 27 raid.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 07, 2017 21:11 UTC