Pakistan

US drone strike kills 7 in Pakistan’s North Waziristan

391894_US-drone

At least seven people have been killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s northwestern restive tribal region near the Afghan border.

Pakistani intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the deadly airstrike took place on Friday when the US drone fired missiles at two compounds in North Waziristan.

According to the officials, four people were killed when a missile struck the compound of Punjabi Taliban in Kund village, while another missile killed three after hitting the compound of Uzbak militants in Mangrotai village in Shawal area.

This is the second US drone attack in Pakistan in less than a week. Earlier on December 20, another drone strike killed at least five militants in North Waziristan.

North Waziristan is considered a stronghold of pro-Taliban militants in Pakistan; the Pakistani army has been conducting a major offensive against the militants there since June 15.

The US carries out targeted killings through drone strikes in several Muslim countries, such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia. Washington claims the targets of the drone attacks are militants, but local officials and witnesses maintain that civilians have been the main victims of such raids over the past few years.

Back to top button