Three drone strikes kill 18 militants in North Waziristan
MIRAMSHAH: Three separate US drone strikes in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal district killed at least 18 militants on Wednesday, security officials said.
Officials in Washington say the drone strikes are a vital tool needed to protect the 150,000 foreign troops in Afghanistan and have killed a number of high-value targets including Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.
The third strike Wednesday again hit North Waziristan, the same tribal district targeted in the previous two drone attacks and a renowned hub for Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
Dandey Darpakhel, a village five kilometres (three miles) from Miramshah, the main town in North Waziristan, was targeted twice and missiles destroyed two different compounds, killing 14 rebels.
In the other attack, a drone fired two missiles which struck a vehicle, killing four militants in Amboor Shaga village of Datta Khel town, 40 kilometres from Miramshah.
All three strikes were confirmed by intelligence officials in Miramshah, who also confirmed the death toll.
More than 1,040 people have been killed in more than 100 drone strikes in Pakistan since August 2008, including a number of senior militants.