ISIS leader in Afghanistan reportedly killed in drone strike

Shahidullah Shahid
(Image credit: AFP/Getty Images)

A senior leader of the Islamic State in Afghanistan was reportedly killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Nangarhar Province, USA Today and Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews report. Shahidullah Shahid, a former Pakistani Taliban spokesman, was operating as a senior leader of the Islamic State and is believed to be dead, along with two ISIS deputies. Another 24 militants were also reported to have been killed.

Meanwhile, the Afghan government has begun talks with leaders of the Taliban in the hopes of bringing an end to the Afghanistan War. Some speculate that the threat of ISIS, which has made inroads with the Taliban's base of support, has made the Taliban especially eager to seek peace with the Afghan government.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.