U.S. drone strikes kill 9 suspected militants in Pakistan

U.S. drone strikes kill 9 suspected militants in Pakistan

2011-06-15 20:37:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Suspected U.S. drone strikes on Wednesday killed at least nine suspected militants in Pakistan's volatile tribal region of South Waziristan, local media reported.

Air strikes targeted a compound belonging to Mullah Nazir's militant group, which is known for fighting U.S.-led security forces, as well as a vehicle in the Doogh and Karikot areas near Wana, according to a Dawn News report.

According to reports, officials on the ground said the compound was empty, but the attack against the vehicle killed several suspected militants.

Controversy has surrounded the drone strikes - which have amounted to over 30 this year - as local residents and officials have blamed them for killing innocent civilians and motivating young men to join the Taliban.

In April, over 40 people were killed in U.S. drone strikes in the volatile tribal region of North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan, prompting thousands of Pakistanis to gather and protest against the attacks during a two-day sit-in.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said in its annual report that the U.S. drones strikes were responsible for 957 extra-legal killings in 2010. Since August 2008, there have been over 250 drone attacks that have reportedly killed more than 1,500 people in North and South Waziristan

Pakistan's Afghan border, which the United States considers to be the most dangerous place on Earth, is known to be a stronghold of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network, considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

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