CIA’s drone mission: U.S. spy aircraft kill 8 in N Waziristan

American spy aircraft rained down missiles into North Waziristan tribal early Tuesday and killed at least eight people, residents said.

The CIA-controlled drones fired missiles in Mir Ali and Essukhel area of North Waziristan in two separate attacks when the people were asleep, they said.

The unmanned aircraft first fired eight missiles at a compound, killing five people. Four people were also injured in the attack.

A senior Taliban leader is believed to be living inside the house.

Shortly after the first strike, U.S. drones launched another strike at a house, which killed at least three people.

Tuesday morning’s strike is the fifth in 2013. So far at least 38 people have been killed in such strikes. They include some important Taliban commanders including Mulla Nazir and Wali Muhammad, chief of Pakistan Taliban’s suicide wing.

On Saturday, US drones had fired a volley of missiles at militant hideouts in northwest Pakistan on Sunday, killing at least 12 Taliban fighters near the Afghan border, security officials said.

The missile attack took place in Babar Ghar village, between North and South Waziristan and killed members of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’s operatives.

Earlier in January, a drone strike had killed Taliban leader Mullah Nazir in Angor Adda area of South Waziristan.

Increase in the number of drone strikes in Waziristan over the past week reflects the U.S. mood to continue the mission in 2013 to eliminate militants.

The U.S. has ignored Pakistan’s calls for halt to the drone strikes as Islamabad insists these attacks are violation of its sovereignty and also counterproductive in the war on armed militants.

Americans are of the view that Taliban, remnants of al-Qaeda and members of the Haqqani Network operate from Waziristan for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Jan 8 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.