The Associated Press reported that Mullah Abdul Rauf, a senior Taliban commander, said the strike "in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area" killed Mansour, who had led the group since the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar in 2013. Mansour reportedly hid Mullah Omar's death until 2015.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency later confirmed Mansour's death, according to the AP.

While visiting Myanmar, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry praised the death of Mansour.

"Mansour posed a continuing imminent threat to U.S. personnel in Afghanistan, Afghan civilians, Afghan security forces and members of Resolute Support," Kerry said. "Peace is what we want. Mansour was a threat to that effort."

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Rose Scott signals as Closer Look goes on air in the WABE studio. An Atlanta resident left WABE a $3 million donation, a boost after WABE lost $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. (Ben Gray / AJC file)

Credit: Ben Gray