Drone strike kills five suspected militants in North Waziristan
Security officials warn that the death toll is expected to rise
DATTA KHEL:
A US drone strike killed at least five suspected militants in Datta Khel, North Waziristan near the Afghan border on Saturday, security officials said, warning that the death toll was expected to rise.
"A US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Mada Khail neighbourhood of Datta Khel area in North Waziristan killing five militants. The death toll is expected to rise," a senior security official requesting anonymity told AFP.
The incident was confirmed by local intelligence sources.
A previous drone strike took place on November 26 in which eight suspected militants were killed, according to security officials.
“The drone fired two missiles, killing at least eight people and injuring two others,” a security official in the area had told AFP via phone on condition of anonymity.
“There may be more dead bodies under the rubble,” he said.
Further, just a day before, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah had escaped a drone strike that had taken place near the Pak-Afghan border.
A senior security official from Fata, while talking to The Express Tribune, said it was confirmed that Fazlullah was present in the Nizyan area of the Ningarhar province of Afghanistan on the Durand Line.
He said the TTP leader escaped the drone strike. However, five others were killed in the strike reportedly near near the zero-line between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A US drone strike killed at least five suspected militants in Datta Khel, North Waziristan near the Afghan border on Saturday, security officials said, warning that the death toll was expected to rise.
"A US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Mada Khail neighbourhood of Datta Khel area in North Waziristan killing five militants. The death toll is expected to rise," a senior security official requesting anonymity told AFP.
The incident was confirmed by local intelligence sources.
A previous drone strike took place on November 26 in which eight suspected militants were killed, according to security officials.
“The drone fired two missiles, killing at least eight people and injuring two others,” a security official in the area had told AFP via phone on condition of anonymity.
“There may be more dead bodies under the rubble,” he said.
Further, just a day before, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Mullah Fazlullah had escaped a drone strike that had taken place near the Pak-Afghan border.
A senior security official from Fata, while talking to The Express Tribune, said it was confirmed that Fazlullah was present in the Nizyan area of the Ningarhar province of Afghanistan on the Durand Line.
He said the TTP leader escaped the drone strike. However, five others were killed in the strike reportedly near near the zero-line between Pakistan and Afghanistan.