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 rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.