A US remotely piloted aircraft on Sunday reportedly killed a senior Taliban commander in northern Afghanistan. Mullah Abdul Salam and some of his key commanders were killed in Kunduz province, Voice of America reported, citing Taliban leaders and Afghan officials. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Sunday that Mullah Salam was “destroyed” in an “important demonstration for the security of Kunduz,” according to VOA. Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis on Monday confirmed a strike occurred, but said the US was still assessing the results of it. However, if the reporting is confirmed, it would be “welcome” news, he said.
The Space Development Agency added 21 satellites to its nascent data transport network in an Oct. 15 launch, the second mission in a 10-month campaign to field 154 operational spacecraft.
