US troops have been clashing with Pakistani “paramilitary” groups (read: jihadis) near the Pak-Afghan border, and this report from a Pakistani source says seven Americans were killed yesterday in the fighting. (Hat tip: Bala Ambati.) Notice how, once again, the locals were apparently incited to violence by “spiritual leaders:”

A large number of people after attending funeral of Said Muhammad staged demonstrations against the US troops. On Monday the US troops came under fire from unknown assailants at the Pak-Afghan border. The US troops asked Pakistan’s paramilitary troops to hand over the accused.

The sources said that officials of the paramilitary forces told the US troops that they have no knowledge about whereabouts of attackers.

This enraged the US troops who tried to cross the Pak-Afghan border forcibly, which was strongly resisted by the Waziristan Scouts.

According to unconfirmed reports, heavy firing took place between the two sides resulting in the killing of seven US troops and injuring of one soldier from Waziristan Scouts.

The sources said Wana officials rushed to the area and avoided bloodshed.

Following the exchange of fire, the US gunship helicopters targeted a double-storey madressa-cum-mosque owned by Maulana Muhammad Hassan, former Taliban official and close relative of Said Muhammad.

The US forces dropped three missiles on the madressa. Two fell on the madressa destroying its walls and rooms while one fell on the nearby ground, the sources said.

(Take any report from a Pakistani source with the usual grain of salt. And since it’s New Year’s Eve, a shot of tequila.)