Afghan officials say Islamic State leader killed by airstrikes

26 August 2018, 3:43 pm

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The leader of the Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan was killed by airstrikes over the weekend along with 10 other people, government officials say following a string of deadly attacks by the extremist group.

The intelligence agency says Saad Arhabi died in a joint operation with coalition forces late Saturday in the group’s eastern stronghold in Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan.

“The Emir of Daesh in Afghanistan along with 10 others was killed,” says in a statement by the National Directorate of Security, calling the group by an Arabic acronym.

Arhabi is the fourth leader of IS’s Afghan branch to be killed since the group first emerged in the country around 2014.

— AFP