U.S. drone strikes kill 6 suspected militants in Pakistan

[News_Editor]

U.S. drone strikes kill 6 suspected militants in Pakistan

2011-11-15 21:35:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least six suspected militants were killed on Tuesday morning when a U.S. drone targeted a rebel compound in Pakistan's tribal region, officials said.

The latest U.S. drone strikes occurred in the Miranshah Bazaar area in Miranshah, the capital of Pakistan's North Waziristan region which borders Afghanistan. Intelligence officials said the U.S. drone launched two missiles against a rebel compound in the area, killing at least six suspected militants.

Earlier this month, on November 3, a series of U.S. drone strikes targeted a compound allegedly linked to the Afghan Taliban-affiliated Haqqani network in the mountainous region of Darpakhel Sarai, just outside Miranshah. The airstrikes left at least three suspected militants killed.

The November 3 airstrikes happened just days after more than 2,000 people gathered and protested against the drone strikes during a demonstration outside the country's parliament. Angry protesters claimed that the strikes have killed more innocent lives than those of militants.

As of the end of October, more than 70 U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan have killed at least 544 people this year, according to a report by the Conflict Monitoring Center. The report showed that the two deadliest months were March and June when 89 and 117 people were killed, respectively. Some of the deadliest attacks were carried out on July 11 and 12 when four air strikes killed 63 people.

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

But 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 2011-11-15

[johna]

The U.S. considers the Pakistan-Afghan border to be the most dangerous place on Earth.

Yes, but it was drone strikes that made it dangerous.

[Pakboong]

Not sure what the problem is here, the UN body counters claim that the collateral damage was only 18% of the total deaths. 18% seems to be a reasonable number. Heaven forbid we let the people on the ground do the counting.

[Steely Dan]

Not sure what the problem is here, the UN body counters claim that the collateral damage was only 18% of the total deaths. 18% seems to be a reasonable number. Heaven forbid we let the people on the ground do the counting.

The people on the ground are too busy murdering to keep count. Welcome back to groundhog day by the way.

[Pakboong]

Not sure what the problem is here, the UN body counters claim that the collateral damage was only 18% of the total deaths. 18% seems to be a reasonable number. Heaven forbid we let the people on the ground do the counting.

The people on the ground are too busy murdering to keep count. Welcome back to groundhog day by the way.

The news has been really slow lately. You are right, same old stuff here. I even had to comment on Herman Cain thread in which I have almost no interest.

[bkkjames]

Another Day - Another Drone

I suspect it won't be the last...

[Pedzie]

Another Day - Another Drone

I suspect it won't be the last...

As long as Pakistan's ISS security services keeps supporting the Taliban then this could go on for years, maybe even ending up with the US confiscating Pakistan's nukes, a measure that would be well vindicated.

[Pedzie]

The U.S. considers the Pakistan-Afghan border to be the most dangerous place on Earth.

Yes, but it was drone strikes that made it dangerous.

I think maybe the fact Bin Laden choosing to stay in the area after he fled Somalia made it the most dangerous place on earth.