US drone kills 16 in Pakistan's North Waziristan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec. 18, IRNA -- US drone aircraft Thursday fired volley of missiles in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region and killed at least 16 people, locals said.
Missiles were fired in Degan and Ambur Shaga areas on the suspected hideouts of the militants, they said.
It was the second strike in North Waziristan in one day. Earlier in the morning a strike in Datta Khel area killed one person.
It was the most serious US drone attack so far, tribesmen said.
Locals said that the US drone fired missiles at one place and when the people were heading to the site of the first blast to pull the bodies and injured out of the rubbles more missiles were fired.
Sources said that Arab militants were attacked in the strike.
However, tribesmen said locals were killed and injured.
Some sources said that seven foreigners were among those killed in the attack.
Local authorities in the region said that as a result of the drone strike, two missiles were dropped at Gudagai area, some 35 kilometers from Miranshah, the center of North Waziristan.
Two missiles were fired at a vehicle, carrying suspected Taliban from Punjab province as well as local militants. One militant was killed and the vehicle destroyed.
Locals said that Taliban succeeded to flee shortly before it was struck by American missiles.
It was 5th US drone attack in North Waziristan in few weeks.
On December 7th, a drone strike on a vehicle killed three people near Miranshah.
The drone struck militants at a time when Pakistani forces have taken control of most of the areas in the neighbouring South Waziristan. Officials say that militants have moved to North Waziristan and Orakzai tribal region.
Meanwhile, bodies of three suspected Taliban were found at Darra Adam Khel tribal region on Thursday.
Officials said locals had killed the Taliban and then threw away their bodies.
But the people said that the three Taliban had been missing for two months after a clash with the security forces.
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