Infamous Taliban Leader Killed In Pakistan(Shoot Down U.S. Chinook, Killing 16 Special Forces)

cbsnews.com ^ | April 16, 2008 | Tucker Reals in London, and Sami Yousafzai, reporting from Peshawar, Pakistan

[Dog]

A senior Taliban commander who became a hero to Islamic militants for his role in shooting down a U.S. helicopter in 2005, killing all 16 special forces troops aboard, has been killed by Pakistani security forces, officials and Taliban militants tell CBS News.

Mullah Ismail, a notorious Taliban commander from the Afghan province of Kunar, was killed in a shootout with Pakistani police as he traveled with a kidnapped trader, a local police officer said Wednesday. He was apparently on his way into the lawless Northwest Frontier Province along the Afghan border.

Officer Mukarma Khan said Ismail, also known as Mullah Ahmad Shah, had kidnapped the trader from a camp for Afghan refugees in Pakistan and was trying to transport him back to the border when he failed to stop at the checkpoint. He apparently opened fire on the police and was killed in the following exchange of gunfire.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the death of the key commander and said he was a prominent Taliban figure in the area.

Abdul Jalal Jalal, chief of police in Afghanistan's Kunar province, where Ismail was based, told CBS News that he was also aware about the militant's death in Pakistan. He described him as the "most wanted terrorist in Kunar province."

A Taliban sub-commander in Kunar province, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not confirm the killing. But he told CBS News Ismail's death "would be a full-scale blow." He praised Ismail for the shooting down of the Chinook in 2005.

Ismail was also said to be a key facilitator of al Qaeda militants in the region - many of whom come from outside southeast Asia and do not speak the local languages. According to Taliban sources, Osama bin Laden personally honored Ismail's authority in the area after the Chinook attack in a letter sent through an intermediary.

Police chief Jalal said Ismail and the militants under his command were behind many attacks on NATO, U.S. and Afghan forces in the northeastern part of Afghanistan.

Ismail became a hero for al Qaeda and the Taliban after his group hit a U.S. Navy MH-47 Chinook helicopter in late June 2005, apparently with a shoulder-fired rocket. The helicopter was one of four aircraft ferrying special forces into the area on a reconnaissance mission.

It was considered a lucky shot from an inaccurate weapon; but it left eight Navy SEALs and eight Army air crew from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment dead. Read report from June 30, 2005.

It was the deadliest single attack on U.S. troops in Afghanistan since the invasion to topple the Taliban in 2001.

The Chinook was shot down as it ferried troops into the region to search for four Navy SEALs who had gone missing in the area in late June. Three of the men were found dead, but one, who was wounded, managed to escape - read report from July 3, 2005 - to a local home, where he was hidden from the Taliban and eventually rescued by U.S. forces.

On Wednesday, Afghan shepherd Gulab Khan, who says he's the one who saved the life of the only surviving SEAL, told CBS News that Mullah Ismail attacked his village the day after the helicopter was shot down, searching for any survivors.

Khan said he protected the SEAL, but his actions brought death threats from Ismail and his militants, which prompted the shepherd to relocate his entire family to the provincial capital. He described Ismail as the most powerful militant in Kunar province.

[mad_as_he$$]

Actual AQ about 12,0000 (about 6,0000 of those have been since the surge). Towelaban 9-30,000 depending on who's numbers you use. of course none of these are “official” since we do not publish actual body counts..

[cookcounty]

"It was considered a lucky shot from an inaccurate weapon; but it left eight Navy SEALs and eight Army air crew from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment dead. Read report from June 30, 2005."

-messed up news is better than no news: "SEALS" and "Special Forces" are two different things.

[Mr. Silverback]

Of course I don’t mind the ping. Nothing like a smooth kill to make my afternoon.

[rlmorel]

Thank you for the ping.

May that terrorist scum rot in hell.

[Churchillspirit]

I wonder how many of the 52 in the pack of cards are still at large.

[Maigrey]

May the Seal Team escort this (censored) to the gates of H*ll, and then (censored!)

[silent_jonny]

SEAL Team 10 and their rescuers have been avenged...

Amen.

A few of the men that were on board the rescue helicopter--8 Navy Seals and 8 members of the Army 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Night Stalkers:

Lieutenant Commander Eric Kristensen
SEAL Team 10's commanding officer

He did not have to go, but he dropped everything, picked up his rifle, and raced for the helicopter with the rest of them, answering our desperate cry for help. ~ Marcus Luttrell

Chief Petty Officer Dan Heally, US Navy

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Eric S. Patton, US Navy

Staff Sergeant Shamus Goare, US Army

Petty Officer Jeffrey Alan Lucas, US Navy

Lt. Michael McGreevy, US Navy

Master Sergeant James "Trey" Ponder III, US Army

Major Steve Reich, US Army

Master Sergeant Michael Russell, US Army

Petty Officer First Class Jeff Taylor

Sorry I couldn't find a full list of names and photos (I apologize if anything above is incorrect). More information here

[silent_jonny]

ping to #67

[Wolfstar]

Hi Jonny. Thanks for the ping, and for posting the names and photos of our brave men. We lose our best overseas while haters like the Obamas actually want to be their commander-in-chief. There are no words to describe the depth of my disgust at such a prospect.

[Terriergal]

A senior Taliban commander who became a hero to Islamic militants for his role in shooting down a U.S. helicopter in 2005, killing all 16 special forces troops aboard, has been killed by Pakistani security forces,

Good riddance.

[Terriergal]

If this guy is telling the truth, he should be given asylum here.

I'll second that.

[Liberty Valance]

Great news!

[DrDeb]

AWESOME NEWS!

Thank you for the ping AND the information on our SEAL Team heros!

[STARWISE]

Thank you so much for letting us see
the heroes who were lost to their
families and their country that day,
serving in the most noble and honorable
manner. God rest His peace on them for
eternity and comfort their families.

So many of them .. so many other brave
souls whose sacrifice I pray will never
be forgotten.

Regarding the elimination of the brutal
savage who unmercifully destroyed these
young, brave lives:

Praise God.

[lesser_satan]

Thanks for the info.

[rlmorel]

You are quite welcome.

I met a taxi driver in Buffalo last year and we began talking about that book. He thought it was so good he suggested his high school daughter read it, which she did.

She was apparently so impressed by it that she was going to do a book report on it. I thought that was great...

[bw17]

He’s telling the truth alright.

Read “Lone Survivor”, written by surviving Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. He’s the man that Gulab and his village helped out.

I’m glad that the Taliban bastard responsible for the deaths of 11 Navy SEALs was finally wiped off the face of the Earth. It’s too bad that SEALs weren’t the ones to put the final bullet in his head though...or at least that’s the story that they’re sticking to.

You can read more about it here:
http://www.blackfive.net/

[shield]

Yep, and Army SF and the Rangers had to go in and rescue the Lone Survivor, Seal Marcus L...

[G8 Diplomat]

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off

[BIGLOOK]

Thanks Star!

Bob and Dave......Long ago and far away, personalities were only known to a few....not that I mind reading their obits.