US missiles kill 13 in Waziristan

Thursday, 16 February 2012 21:20

MIRANSHAH: Two US drone strikes struck militants in North Waziristan, officials said.

The aircraft fired missiles hours apart on separate targets in what is considered the premier bastion of Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan as the government in Islamabad welcomed the Afghan and Iranian leaders for a summit.

Five militants were killed in the first attack that destroyed a compound in Spalga town near Miranshah and at least eight died in the second attack on a vehicle near the town of Mir Ali, about 25 kilometres (16 miles) to the east.

"The death toll may rise," a security official warned AFP after the second strike targeted militants travelling in a double cabin pick-up.

"At least eight militant have been killed in the second strike," he said, describing them all as "foreigners".

Another security official in Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan, put the death toll at 12, saying they were all Uzbek Islamist fighters.

"The vehicle caught fire and the dead bodies are badly mutilated," he added.