Early Monday, President Obama confirmed that Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour has been killed, calling the death "an important milestone in our longstanding effort to bring peace and prosperity to Afghanistan." Mansour was apparently killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan over the weekend, and Obama said in a statement that the U.S. has "removed the leader of an organization that has continued to plot against and unleash attacks on American and coalition forces, to wage war against the Afghan people."
Obama is on his first day in Vietnam, and at a news conference with President Tran Dai Quang, he said the killing of Mansour — the first known drone strike in Pakistan's Balochistan area — does not mean that the U.S. is "re-entering the day-to-day combat operations that are currently being conducted by Afghanistan forces." Instead, he said, Mansour was "an individual who as head of the Taliban was specifically targeting U.S. personnel and troops inside of Afghanistan who are there as part of the mission I have set to maintain a counterterrorism platform and provide assistance." Pakistan has criticized the strike, but Obama said it sent the Taliban a message: "We're going to protect our people."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Puppet shows, pagodas and pho: a guide to HanoiThe Week Recommends Vietnam's capital city blends the ancient with the new
-
'There are benefits, but not acknowledging them would tell only half of the story'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big TechTalking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red SeaSpeed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacksspeed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages releasedSpeed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs saySpeed Read
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?Speed Read
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign portSpeed Read
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'Speed Read
