LASHKARGAH - A veteran Taliban commander, who had reportedly defected to the Islamic State, was among at least five others killed on Monday in a US drone strike in southern Helmand province, an official said.

Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim, a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was travelling in a car in his stronghold Azan area of the Kajaki town when the drone hit the vehicle, killing him and some others, Deputy Governor Mohammad Jan Rassoul Yar told Pajhwok Afghan News.

“The missile targeted a car, killing three onboard, including Commander Khadim and some others have been wounded,” he said.

A Taliban source, wishing anonymity, said Khadim and four others had been killed in the attack. The dead included his brother in law and four Pakistani fighters.

A tribal elder Haji Shah Wali confirmed the airstrike but he had no information about casualties. Taliban have not yet commented on the incident.

Khadim had served as a military commander in Herat and Kabul during the Taliban regime. He was a close ally of Taliban’s supreme leader Mullah Omar.

Some months ago, he defected from the Taliban and joined the Islamic State, a militant group that controls large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.  (Pajhwok)