ISAF says Qari Faiz Mohammad, a top Taliban commander with close links to supreme leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, died in a fierce clash with ANA and ISAF troops last week. Details of the raid were not released but one ISAF soldier died in southern Afghanistan that same day. There has been no official announcement of Qari Faiz MohammadÂ’s death from Taliban sources.
Qari Faiz Mohammad was one of Afghanistan’s ‘Most Wanted’ Taliban leaders. He acted as Chairman of the Taliban military council and allegedly financed many Taliban operations launched in Helmand province, according to the BBC.
| Here's hoping he kept all the numbers to the secret bank accounts in his now-splattered head. |
Before that, top Taliban strategist Mullah Dadullah died during a Coalition air assault on his safe house in Helmand province. The death of Mullah Dadullah on May, 12 is the single greatest blow to the Taliban leadership since the movement was ousted from power in late 2001.
Helmand is easily the most unstable state in the country with heavy fighting and suicide attacks occurring on a near daily basis. According to the BBC, listed the remaining ‘Most Wanted’ Taliban members include: Mullah Mohammad Omar, Mullah Berader, Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, Abdul Rahim, Naime Bareech and Dadullah Mansour.