Mon, Jan 18, 2010
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.
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