Reports of Taliban leader’s injury or death
Mullah Mansour, the new leader of the Taliban, may have been wounded or even killed in a meeting of the movement’s leadership council. This comes shortly after a faction broke away, apparently in disagreement over the succession following the death of Mullah Omar.
The Taliban has always been a group unified by the presence of foreign troops and the personal authority of Omar. Most foreign troops are gone, Omar is dead. The movement is likely to suffer from further divisions which may make negotiations more complicated but more likely as some groups may negotiate regional autonomy from Kabul.
Opposition to US troops grows in Iraq
The US decision to send special forces teams into Iraq has already brought opposition from Shia militias. Now, Shia political groups are also stating their opposition, saying PM Abadi is committing political suicide in supporting the move. Both the Shia militias and politicians are echoing the increasingly anti-US line coming from Iran.
Continued opposition will push the US into supporting Kurdish independence and Sunni independence as well.
Meanwhile, former US proconsul for Iraq Paul Bremmer calls for President Obama to send 10000 US troops to Iraq to fight ISIL.