Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday identified six al-Qaeda members who were killed in a joint operation carried out by Afghan and US forces in Musa Qala district of southern Helmand province.
They included Raihan, who was tasked with delivering messages between Asim Umar, the leader of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the group’s supreme leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, according to a statement from Defense Ministry.
Others were Faizani, head of al-Qaeda for Helmand and in-charge of making bombs, his deputy Madani and Madani’s assistant Qureshi.
Sahil and Karamat, two al-Qaeda commanders, were also killed in the raid.
According to the statement, 17 Taliban militants who were fighting alongside al-Qaeda were also killed in the operation.
They included Mahmood, Taliban’s military chief for Nawzad district.
Additionally, Afghan special forces arrested 14 militants in the raid and seized one suicide vest, a motorcycle, hand-grenades, improvised explosive devices, light weapons and 25 night vision goggles.
