KABUL -- British forces killed an alleged Taliban leader in southern Afghanistan, U.K. and Afghan officials said Tuesday, in what they claimed was a major victory against the insurgency there.Mullah Mansur was killed Monday in a strike by helicopters in Helmand province, the British defense ministry said.
Helmand government spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said Mansur was the aviation minister in the Taliban regime that was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
British military spokesman Lt. Col Nick Richardson said Mansur was "one of the most dangerous men in Helmand."
"The attacks he helped plan and execute have probably killed or wounded hundreds of people, and most of them have been either Afghan civilians or police," he said, adding his death was a "serious blow" to the insurgency.