24 die in US drone strikes in Pakistan
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 17, IRNA -- US drone aircraft launched three attacks in a Pakistani tribal region on Friday and killed 24 people, local media reported.
Drone strikes into Khyber tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, is a sign of US plan to expand drone strikes to other areas.
TV channels reported that three strikes in the mountainous Tirah valley in Khyber Agency targeted centers of ‘Lashkar-e-Islam' militant group.
The first strike was carried out at Sipah area and killed five militants including a ‘Lashkar’ commander Fauji.
The second strike took place after an hour at Nahki area of the agency, targeting the Lashkar center. Witnesses said that 15 militants were killed and several injured.
The third strike killed four people, reports said.
TV channels said that the third strike was launched to hit chief of the group Mangal Bagh, who is also wanted to Pakistani government.
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 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,” Obama said at the White House on Thursday while launching his first review of the US strategy for Afghanistan.
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