NATO: Taliban mastermind killed in Afghanistan

(CNN) -- A top Taliban commander -- a man described by one Afghan official as a "killer of killers" responsible for the terror outfit's day-to-day operations -- is dead, NATO said Sunday.

NATO's International Security Assistance Forces confirmed earlier reports by the Afghan government that Mullah Dadullah was killed in southern Afghanistan.

Dadullah "left his sanctuary into southern Afghanistan where he was killed in a U.S.-led coalition operation supported by NATO," the organization said in a statement.

According to the Afghan government, Dadullah was killed in Helmand province in a joint Afghan army-police operation backed by NATO air support.

"We are happy he is not alive anymore," government spokesman Khaleeq Ahmad said Sunday.

Arabic-language television network Al-Jazeera reported Sunday that Taliban sources confirmed Dadullah died in battle in Helmand Province.

The elusive commander was in charge of day-to-day military operations for the Taliban, and his death would be considered a major blow to the resurgent Taliban.

"This guy was the main leader in lower Afghanistan and Pakistan as well," Ahmad said.

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