US Drone Strike Kills 20 in NW Pakistan (10th strike this year)

[tekisui]

Source: Brisbane Times

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan: A US drone attack has killed at least 20 militants in a restive Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, where Pakistani Taliban chief escaped an attack four days ago, officials say.

The attack took place on Sunday in Shaktoi area, 40km southeast of Miranshah, the main town in the rugged tribal region of North Waziristan, a senior military official said.

"The target was a militant compound," he said. "The toll has gone up and 20 militant deaths have been confirmed," he added.

The toll may go up, another official said, adding that militants were carrying out rescue work at the demolished compound.

"The drones are apparently tracking and targeting Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, whose presence is frequently reported in the area," one official said. The unmanned US drone fired at least three missiles, he said.

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Sunday's attack was the tenth missile strike by an unmanned US spy plane so far this year, as the administration of US President Barack Obama puts Pakistan at the heart of its fight against al-Qaeda and Islamist extremists.

The latest attack also brought to 46 the number of militants reported to have been killed in the three attacks since Thursday.

Missiles fired from an unmanned US aircraft killed at least 15 Islamist insurgents at a training camp in the lawless northwest tribal belt on Thursday, when security officials said Mehsud may have been among the dead.

The US drones kept up their bombardment on Friday, with at least 11 militants killed in two separate attacks in the same region.

more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/us-drone-strike-kills-20-in-nw-pakistan-officials-20100118-mens.html