U.S. forces have obliterated top terror leaders in Afghanistan through recent strikes, and one video released by the Pentagon shows the lights being snuffed out of the Taliban’s “Red Unit” commander.
In conjunction with Afghan forces, U.S. troops in Afghanistan have launched numerous strikes against central terror figures belonging to al-Qaida and the Taliban, scoring some big successes.
One video shows a recent strike on the Taliban’s Red Unit commander, Mullah Shah Wali, also known as Haji Nasir. The Taliban’s Red Unit is tasked with conducting suicide missions and planting improvised explosive devices. Wali’s job in particular was to supply the Taliban with arms in Helmand Province, a main base of operations for the Taliban.
Afghan forces and USFOR-A can confirm the deaths of two top terrorist leaders in Afghanistan: Omar Khetab, 2nd in command of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, and Mullah Shah Wali, aka Haji Nasir, leader of the Taliban “Red Unit” in Helmand. #ForAFGhttps://t.co/VUbMKFhL2X pic.twitter.com/IJWTZUJpbJ
— USForces Afghanistan (@USFOR_A) December 5, 2017
The strike occurred in Helmand Province on Dec. 1 and not only killed Wali, but also one of his deputy commanders and three other terrorists.
“Mullah Shah Wali’s death will disrupt the Taliban network, degrade their narcotics trafficking, and hinder their ability to conduct attacks against Afghan forces,” Army Gen. John Nicholson, top commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said in a statement. “USFOR-A and our Afghan partners will continue to aggressively target Taliban leaders to destroy their drug network, disrupt their communications, and deny them safe haven.”
A U.S. official told CNN that operations in Ghazni Province on Monday resulted in the death of senior al-Qaida leader Omar Khetab, who was responsible for advising the Taliban on rockets and mortars to use against Afghan troops and other forces. Khetab is known as the second most senior leader of al-Qaida on the Indian Subcontinent. He’s also the most senior leader killed since the end of 2001.
“This operation is a testament to the real growth the Afghan forces have achieved over the past year,” Nicholson added. “It is also another example of the lethality of the undefeated Afghan Special Forces and the success of working side by side with our Afghan partners.”
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