(Updates with NATO confirmation) KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Feb 4 (Reuters) - NATO forces killed a Taliban commander in southern Afghanistan on Sunday during an offensive to retake a town from the militants, NATO and residents said. The commander, Mullah Ghafour, was killed along with an unknown number of Taliban fighters in in an air strike targetting his vehicle near Musa Qala in Helmand province, they said. Ghafour was the Taliban commander in Musa Qala, which the Taliban seized on Thursday night after months of peace from a truce tribal elders brokered between NATO's British forces and the Taliban in the area."This key Taliban leader was well known to have commanded insurgents within the Musa Qala District and was directly responsible for the recent uprising and insurgent attacks within the village of Musa Qala," NATO said in a statement. "By his removal, the elders and people of Musa Qala have been protected," said Squadron Leader Dave Marsh, spokesman for the alliance's southern command. There were no civilian casualties and minimal damage to the surrounding area, the statement said. The identity of the others inside the vehicle was not known. The Taliban could not be immediately reached for comment. The United States took over command of the 33,000 NATO-led troops on Sunday as part of a regular rotation of leadership of the force.
