Drone strike kills four militants in N Waziristan

Drone strikes in North Waziristan have increased in Frequency this month. PHOTO: EPA

MIRAMSHAH: A suspected US drone strike killed four militants today (Monday) while targeting a rebel compound in North Waziristan, local security officials said.

The strike took place in Khushali Toorikhel village southeast of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district known as a stronghold for Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

“A US drone fired two missiles on a militant compound, killing two rebels,” a senior Pakistani security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Another security official confirmed the attack and the death toll.

Drone attacks have reached unprecedented levels this month with the 20th strike on Sunday in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel area.

According to researcher Dr Zeeshanul Hasan Usmani, who monitors drone and suicide attacks in the country, there have been a total of 198 drone attacks since the first hit on June 18, 2004 in South Waziristan Agency. The attack killed five people, including Taliban commander Nek Mohmmad. More than 2,100 people have been killed so far, including 36 high-profile militants, he said.