U.S. drone strikes kill scores of suspected militants in Pakistan

[News_Editor]

U.S. drone strikes kill scores of suspected militants in Pakistan

2011-07-12 21:35:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Dozens of suspected militants were killed after a series of U.S. drone strikes were launched in the country's volatile tribal region during the past 24 hours, officials said Tuesday.

The latest air strikes took place in Pakistan's North and South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan. At least 32 suspected militants were killed during the attacks, the Express Tribune reported. However, other reports indicate that over 40 people were killed in total.

U.S. drone strikes were launched since Monday night when at least 10 suspected militants were killed during missile strikes against a vehicle and compound in Datta Khel, North Waziristan. Four others were killed earlier during a separate air strike in the Bermel area of South Waziristan. During that attack, at least seven others were reported injured.

The latest strikes were conducted Tuesday morning in the Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan. U.S. drones targeted a compound that was completely destroyed and a vehicle in the area. Four missiles were launched during the attack, killing at least 18 people.

The U.S. drone attacks were launched only one day after $800 million in military aid to Pakistan were delayed as increasing tensions continue between the two countries.

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. Details about the casualties are usually not provided.

Last month, at least seven U.S. drone strikes were conducted in South and North Waziristan, which was heavily targeted in 2010. Around 90 suspected militants were killed during the strikes.

In April, more than 40 people were killed in U.S. drone strikes in the volatile tribal region of North Waziristan, 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. drone 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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