Afghan and coalition forces killed Mullah Ismail, the Taliban shadow governor of Badghis province, and Abdul Hakim, a Taliban senior leader in Badghis, during an operation in the province Wednesday.
The Afghan and coalition force's deliberate campaign to disrupt Taliban operations in Badghis and neighboring Faryab provinces has resulted in five Taliban senior leaders killed, including the shadow governors for Badghis and Faryab provinces, and one captured, during several operations over the last 10 days.
"This was a huge blow to the Taliban operating in northwest Afghanistan," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "These were two of the few remaining shadow governors not hiding in Pakistan and their removal will significantly reduce Taliban influence throughout the region."
Mullah Ismail had operational control over Taliban fighters, suicide bombers, directed improvised explosive device strikes, indirect fire and complex ambush attacks on coalition forces.
The security force tracked three insurgents armed with AK-47s travelling through a remote area in Murghab district. As the security force approached, the insurgents threatened them and the assault force shot and killed them. The third insurgent was detained unharmed.
The security force continued clearing in the area, when three additional insurgents threatened the security force. The assault force fired, killing all three insurgents, including Mullah Ismail and Abdul Hakim. All the insurgents were armed with various types of weapons.
Article by IJC Public Affairs Advisory Team- Regional Command North