U.S drone strikes hit Pakistan on second consecutive day, killing 4

[News_Editor]

U.S drone strikes hit Pakistan on second consecutive day, killing 4

2011-10-15 06:52:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- A U.S. drone attack killed at least four people in Pakistan's volatile tribal region on Friday, continuing its campaign of drone strikes only one day after two senior Haqqani Network leaders were killed, local media reported.

The unmanned U.S. aircraft launched two missiles against a vehicle in the Darpakhel area of Pakistan's North Waziristan, which is located about four kilometers (two miles) west of Miranshah, the Express Tribune reported.

The targeted vehicle was leaving a house in the area when the drone launched the airstrike. The house was also damaged during the attack, which reportedly killed four people inside the vehicle. Their identities were not immediately known.

On Thursday, two senior Haqqani Network leaders were killed after U.S. drones launched attacks in the same area. Several other militants were also killed.

The first drone reportedly launched two missiles targeting Haqqani Network commander Jamil Haqqani, who is believed to have coordinated logistics for the militant group and has been a close aide to Sirajuddin Haqqani. Jamil and three other militants were killed as a result of the strikes that targeted a house in the Dandey Darpakhel village, which is located about 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Miranshah.

Later reports said that Janbaz Zadran of the Haqqani Network was also killed in one of the airstrikes. The report, citing U.S. officials speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Zadran helped the organization orchestrate attacks on troops in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan.

The officials called Zadran's death the most senior Haqqani leader in Pakistan to be taken off the battlefield.

Sine U.S. forces killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2 in Pakistan's Abbottabad, more than 30 drone strikes have been carried out in the country's tribal regions. The U.S. has considered Pakistan's Afghan border to be the most dangerous place on Earth. The area 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.

In the first seven months of the year, 51 U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan have killed at least 443 people, according to a report by Conflict Monitoring Center. The report showed that the two deadliest months were June and July when 117 and 73 people were killed, respectively. One of the deadliest attacks was carried out on July 11 and 12 when four air strikes killed 63 people, the report said.

Controversy has surrounded the drone strikes as local residents and officials have blamed them for killing innocent civilians and motivating young men to join the Taliban. Details about the alleged militants are usually not provided, and the U.S. government does not comment on the strikes.

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 which have reportedly killed more than 1,500 people in North and South Waziristan alone.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-15

[flying]

The beat goes on....& on.....& on

One screwed up policy this indiscriminate killing.

Edited October 15, 2011 by flying

[Ulysses G.]

Meeting those 21 virgins seems to be happening a lot faster these days. It remains to be seen if this will deter terrorist leaders who have personally never seemed to be in any hurry about going to paradise.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[flying]

Every action has a reaction

Folks who claim they want peace yet are aggressors should know by now.

They have only to look at others who have been chased through history by their own karma.

Edited October 15, 2011 by flying

[Ulysses G.]

Sorry, but I can not think of many "aggressors" who have been "chased through history". It is usually peaceful people who get chased and evil aggressors who do the chasing.

Edited October 15, 2011 by Ulysses G.

[smiling mantis]

Promises change.

Changes promise.