20 killed in US air strikes in South Waziristan

{image-air strikes_27102008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Wana, Oct 27: At least 20 persons were killed in South Waziristan on Sunday, Oct 26 when suspected US spy drones fired missiles into an alleged militant compound in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan.

Though there was no official confirmation of the strike either from the Pakistani military or from the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, the air strike was the latest in a string of attacks on Pakistani soil that have raised tensions between Islamabad and Washington. South Waziristan is a known hub of Al-Qaeda and Taliban activity. The strike targeted a compound about 20 km northeast of Wana, the main town in the tribal zone, the officials said. "Mature reports said at least twenty people were killed in the missile strike, which destroyed the facility," The News quoted one senior security official as telling the media.

It was the 12th such strike in the past ten weeks, all of which have been blamed on US-led coalition forces or CIA drones based in Afghanistan. Last week, 11 people were killed when suspected US spy drones fired missiles into a school in North Waziristan set up by veteran Taliban militant Jalaluddin Haqqani, a major target for US forces, security officials said.

ANI