20 Daesh militants killed in Afghan drone strikes

PESHAWAR: Afghan officials claimed a Pakistani commander of the Islamic State was among the 20 fighters of the group who were killed in three US drone strikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province on Friday.

The officials told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) that more than 20 Islamic State (IS) fighters were killed after three drone strikes in the bordering Achin district of eastern Nangarhar province. “The first attack targeted the house of Malik Niaz in Bandar area of Achin district at approximately 11:00am, killing eight Daesh affiliates including Commander Omar,” explained Haji Ghalib, administrator of Achin district.

He said Commander Omar hailed from Pakistan’s tribal region of Orakzai Agency. He said the second drone attack targeted a check post of Daesh fighters in the same village in the afternoon killing three fighters. He said the third drone strike hit a check post of militants in Abdulkhil area of the same district wherein 10 fighters were killed.