KABUL: Afghanistan’s intelligence service says the highest-ranking leader among local militants loyal to the Islamic State group was killed in an airstrike in eastern Afghanistan.
Abdul Hassib Sediqi, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said on Saturday that Hafeez Sayeed was one of more than 30 militants killed in a U.S. strike Friday in Nangarhar province.
Sediqi said the Afghan intelligence service provided information to U.S. forces, who carried out the strike.
Afghan government officials have claimed the presence of Islamic State group activity in at least three provinces of the country, but the existence of an active Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan has not been confirmed. The Taliban, at war with the Afghan government for nearly 14 years, have warned the IS group to stay out of Afghanistan.