US drone strikes kill 35 more in Pakistan, mostly civilians
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 18, IRNA -- US drone aircraft launched series of strikes in a Pakistani tribal region Friday killing 35 people, mostly civilians, local TV channels reported.
Three drone strikes into Khyber tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, is a sign of the US plan to expand drone strikes to other areas from Waziristan region.
Dawn TV reported though that the drones struck centers of ‘Lashkar-e-Islam' or army of Islam militant group. Three hideouts of the group were destroyed, the report said.
Local media had earlier reported 26 deaths in the attacks and more bodies were recovered from the rubbles, raising death toll to 35.
Express TV put the death toll at 51.
There has still been no official confirmation of the death toll.
The first strike was carried out at Sipah area, which reportedly killed a commander of the group. Other victims are stated to be members of the Lashkar. Five people were killed in the attack.
The second strike took place after an hour at Nahki area of the agency. It killed 15 militants.
The third strike had killed four people. TV channels said that the third strike was launched to hit chief of the group Mangal Bagh, who is also wanted to Pakistani government. There was no report about Mangal Bagh.
It is the second consecutive day of US drone strikes in Khyber Agency.
On Thursday, seven people were killed when US drone aircraft targeted a vehicle in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.
US drone aircraft regularly launch strikes in Pakistan’s Waziristan region, which CIA consider as the main base for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
Several militant groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, are active in the region, also the main supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan. Taliban militants attack NATO supply vehicles in Khyber agency.
The fresh strike came a day after President Barack Obama announced his new Afghan war strategy, asking Pakistan to do more against the militants on its soil.
“Progress has not come fast enough, so we will continue to insist to Pakistani leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders must be dealt with,” Mr. Obama said at the White House on Thursday, while launching his first review of the US strategy for Afghanistan.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30128713
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