Sucks to be you, dude.

And the game of whack-a-mole continues, with another one gone.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2007 RELEASE # 019

Taliban commander killed in precision strike positively identified BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Coalition forces positively identified one of the militants killed in a Dec. 2 precision munitions strike in the Musa Qaleh district of Helmand Province as former Taliban senior commander Mullah Ikhalas.

Mullah Ikhalas was a senior Taliban commander active in the Musa Qaleh district. He is reported to be responsible for the March 5 kidnapping of Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo, his interpreter, and his driver. Mastrogiacomo's interpreter and driver were executed by Taliban insurgents. Reports also indicated Ikhalas was responsible for a number
of mortar attacks on coalition bases as well as several IED attacks.

During the course of the Dec. 2 operations, Coalition forces targeted a vehicle in the Musa Qaleh district containing Mullah Ikhalas and three other unidentified militants. A supporting aircraft employed a precision-guided munition, destroying the vehicle and killing the
occupants.

There were no immediate indications of injuries or deaths to civilians not taking part in hostilities.

"The death of Mullah Ikhalas is a significant blow to the Taliban command structure in Afghanistan," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesperson.