KABUL, Afghanistan » Afghan officials today confirmed that Hafiz Sayed Khan, leader of Islamic State’s Afghanistan branch, was killed in a U.S. drone strike.

The Pentagon said Friday that Khan was killed in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.

“We can confirm that Hafiz Sayed was killed on July 26 in the Achin district of Nangarhar province,” Afghan Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.

The drone strike occurred in July, during joint monthlong U.S. special forces and Afghan military operations against Islamic State in Nangarhar. The airstrike was carried out with Khan as the target, according to the Pentagon.

Nangarhar has been used by Islamic State to recruit, train and equip fighters.

Khan, described as the emir of Islamic State’s Afghanistan and Pakistan wing, had previously been part of the Taliban before swearing allegiance to Islamic State.