US assassination drone kills 5 in northeastern Afghanistan

At least five civilians have been killed in a US assassination drone strike carried out in Afghanistan’s northeastern province of Kunar, Press TV reports.

Villagers say all the victims were civilians and had no links to any militant group.

Kunar which is located near the border with Pakistan has been the scene of frequent US assassination drone attacks.

Washington claims the targets of the drone attacks are al-Qaeda militants, but local officials and witnesses maintain that civilians have been the main victims of the attacks over the past few years.

The United States also carries out targeted killings through drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence of about 100,000 US-led troops.