US drone strike kills five militants in Pak tribal region

Islamabad, Oct 15: A US drone on Saturday, Oct 15 fired missiles on a militant compound in Pakistan's restive South Waziristan tribal region, killing at least five terrorists in the fourth such strike in three days near the Afghan border.

The compound that was targeted was situated in Bermal area of South Waziristan, the state-run PTV reported. The drone fired four missiles on a house in the compound, where Taliban militants were believed to be hiding.

Private TV channels reported that five militants were killed in the strike and the compound was completely destroyed.

PTV said five other militants were also injured in the attack. It was the fourth drone strike in the insurgent-infested Waziristan tribal region in three days.

On Thursday, US spy planes carried out two strikes in North and South Waziristan and killed 10 militants, including Jamil, a commander of the Haqqani network. Pakistani and US security officials have confirmed the death of Jamil, who was also known as Janbaz Zadran, in that strike.

Jamil was the lieutenant of Badruddin Haqqani, brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader the group. Pakistani media reported that Jamil was in-charge of the logistic affairs of the Haqqani network but he was not a member of the Haqqani family.

Local tribesmen said that members of the Haqqani network had been living in Dande Darpakhel area for years but claimed that all had left the region as the result of the military operation in 2005.

Four militants were killed yesterday when a US drone targeted a house and a vehicle in North Waziristan.

PTI