Crushed Morale

(Fox News) - British military sources say the predicted spring offensive by the Taliban in Afghanistan has stalled because so many middle-ranking commanders have been killed in the past year.

The London Telegraph reports last week's killing of key Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah by American Special Forces crushed morale so much that local commanders are telling their men to "remain professional" despite the loss.

The paper reports more than 1,000 Taliban have been eliminated by British troops in the last year — and that has left few mid-level leaders to coordinate the planned spring offensive.