U.S. Airstrikes in Paktika Kill Two TTP Leaders with Links to Al Qaeda

Coalition forces confirmed that a U.S. airstrike killed a Tehrik-e Taliban deputy commander and Al Qaeda facilitator named Rehan in Bermal district, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2018. Rehan is the second significant TTP deputy commander killed in Paktika this year. Sanja Meshoud was killed by a U.S. airstrike on Jan. 27 in Bermal, Paktika.

As TTP deputy commanders, Rehan and Meshoud yielded influence within Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda provides funding to the TTP. The TTP, in turn, facilitate Al Qaeda travel and operations in the region. The removal of Rehan and Meshoud degrades Al Qaeda's ability to fund and direct TTP and other violent extremists throughout Paktika and the surrounding areas.

video from NATO Special Operations Component Command