Taliban commander blamed in 2005 helicopter attack is killed
- Share via
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN — A Taliban commander blamed for the deadliest attack on American troops since they entered Afghanistan in late 2001 has been killed in a shootout with security forces in Pakistan, U.S. and Pakistani officials said.
Police killed Ahmad Shah, also known as Mullah Ismail, at a roadblock near the northwestern city of Peshawar, a senior Pakistani intelligence official said.
Two U.S. security officials confirmed Shah’s death in a shootout and said Pakistani authorities had his body.
U.S. and Afghan officials have described Shah as the leader of Taliban militants who ambushed a group of U.S. commandos in June 2005 and shot down a Chinook helicopter sent to rescue them.
Sixteen American special forces troops on the helicopter died.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
