At least three killed in latest U.S. drone strike in northwestern Pakistan

[News_Editor]

At least three killed in latest U.S. drone strike in northwestern Pakistan

2010-11-19 23:56:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least three suspected militants were killed during the latest U.S. drone strike in the northwestern tribal region of Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, officials said Friday.

Pakistani security officials said a U.S. drone aircraft launched four missiles and struck a vehicle in the North Waziristan region, considered Pakistan's premier fortress of militants and the recent target of increased in U.S. drone strikes. The strikes killed at least three people, but up to four have been reported.

The air strike by the unmanned U.S. drone was conducted in Naurak village, which is located around 15 kilometers east of Miranshah, the main town in the tribal district.

On Tuesday, a suspected U.S. drone strike in the same area killed at least 20 insurgents after firing an undisclosed number of missiles at a militant compound which was reportedly an insurgent training center in the Ghulam Khan village in Pakistan’s tribal area, located approximately 20 kilometers north of Miranshah.

The attack was the latest in the covert U.S. drone campaign in Afghanistan that is aimed at disrupting Al-Qaeda headquarters in the Afghan border with Pakistan. The U.S. considers the region as the most dangerous place on Earth.

The leadership of the Haqqani network is also based in North Waziristan. The Haqqani group is known to be close to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. It has been accused of planning some of the deadliest attacks on U.S. and coalition forces In Afghanistan.

Since September 3, violence has escalated in the area as more than 220 people have been killed in over 40 strikes. The U.S. has been highly critical of Pakistan’s failure to launch a ground offensive in North Waziristan.

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