Authorities in Pakistan immediately contacted the Afghan Government after the incident to ensure the safe return of the members, which also included a Russian navigator.
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It was the United States military’s second killing of an anti-American Islamist militant leader in the region in the past three months. Last year, Afghan intelligence agents claimed he had been killed, but the report was never confirmed.
USA and Afghan special operations forces conducted operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Afghanistan’s southern Nangarhar province between approximately July 1-30, 2016, a Defense Department spokesman said in a statement released today.
Last August, 12 people were killed when a helicopter belonging to the army crashed in northwest Pakistan.
A top leader of the so-called Islamic State has been killed in a US drone strike, according to Pentagon, whose such claims have been denied by the terrorist group.
Khan has been reported dead before.
IS increased its activities in Afghanistan since a year ago.
Most NATO counter-terrorism troops have left Afghanistan, with the Afghan local forces now handling security.
If true, the death of Hafiz Saeed Khan would strike a blow to efforts by IS to expand its control over territory and its jihadi brand into Afghanistan and Pakistan.
USA and Afghan Special Operations Forces conducted an airstrike in Afghanistan that targeted and killed ISIS leader Hafiz Sayed Khan on July 26, according to a statement from the Pentagon. Trowbridge said the airstrike was in Achin district, as opposed to Kot district.
There has also been evidence that IS is trying to recruit Taliban fighters, with several Taliban commanders declaring allegiance to IS.
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The leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Afghanistan and Pakistan was killed in a USA drone strike on July 26, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan has told the Reuters news agency.
