Aircraft Attacks on Insurgent Bases Continue To Remove Terrorist Leaders 

Pakistani security officials reported another air strike carried out by UAS on Sunday killed over a dozen militants.  Although the US military has not commented on the event, American forces are the only units known to be using UAS in Pakistan.

This latest attack targeted a compound in the tribal Shaktu area near the Afghan border in western Pakistan.  The house was reportedly owned by a member of the Mehsud tribe, leaders of the Taliban in Pakistan.  Officials reported four missiles struck the residence, killing as many as 15 people.

The Pakistani military forces have been conducting recent anti-terrorist operations in the same Shaktu area of South Waziristan.  The US identified this as a stronghold for terrorist operatives and had been pressuring Pakistan forces to move into the area.

Previous attacks last week in the same area killed a dozen Taliban and reportedly wounded Hakimullah Mehsud.  He became the leader of the Pakistani Taliban after a UAS strike in August killed his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud.  Hakimullah Mehsud had previously appeared in a video claiming responsibility for the December 30 suicide bombing that killed eight CIA agents.

Controversy has arisen over the use of UAS in Pakistan by US forces.  While the Pakistani government publicly denounces the aircraft as violating their sovereign airspace, US officials claim they have quietly gained permission to conduct the missions.

UAS attacks on Pakistani targets have increased in frequency recently.  Reports claim up to 10 separate missions in 2010 have resulted in 65 casualties.

FMI: www.defense.gov