At least 21 alleged militants were killed on Tuesday in US drone strikes and Pakistan security forces’ operation in the lawless tribal areas.
“A US drone fired two missiles into a compound used by militants in South Waziristan on Tuesday, killing at least 10 militants,” the official said. The missiles targeted the compound in Karikot village in South Waziristan district, the official added. “Ten militants died in the attack and at least two were wounded. The dead included some foreign militants,” he said.
The house was known to be frequented by Al Qaeda members, intelligence officials said. Aside from saying one of the dead was believed to be an Al Qaeda operative, the officials would not speculate on the identities of those killed.
They added, however, that they included Arabs, Turkmen and Pakistanis. Four militants also were wounded in the attack, the four officials said on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media on the record.
Meanwhile in Kurrum agency, at least 11 extremists were killed and another four injured in Pakistan security forces’ offensive. The security forces launch-ed bombardment on militants’ vehicles in response to intelligence regarding presence of extremists in Ghalu Ghanday area located in middle of agency, officials said. Pakistan’s Army has waged a major ground offensive against the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan. The operation appears to have cleared much of the rugged region of the militants, though many have simply fled to other parts of the semiautonomous tribal belt. Still, violence continues in South Waziristan itself, indicating the Taliban remain there. The US has relied heavily on its covert missile campaign to take out Al Qaeda and Taliban targets in the tribal areas.