Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Baitullah Target of Recent Missles

TANK, July 7: A suspected US drone fired two missiles at a militant training centre in Laddha subdivision of South Waziristan on Tuesday, killing 16 militants and injuring 10 others. Five foreigners were among the dead, security officials said.

The camp allegedly run by militants loyal to Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was in Chenakai area of the Shabikhels, a sub clan of Mehsud tribe. Baitullah belongs to this clan. There was no report if any high-value target had been hit in the attack carried out at about 10 am.

Sources said that a local commander of Baitullah was among the dead. (According to AFP, the missile strike pulverised a compound which a high-ranking official described as a former office of Baitullah Mehsud, who has a five-million-dollar price on his head and a bounty of $615,000 in Pakistan for allegedly masterminding multiple deadly bombings.)

US drones have intensified attacks in North and South Waziristan after security forces launched an operation against militants.

On June 23, the unmanned aircraft had attacked a militants’ hideout and a funeral ceremony of a militant commander, killing about 70 people.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Air Force jets shelled suspected positions of militants in Berwand area of South Waziristan.

Read it all here.

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