US drone strikes kill 18 in north-west Pakistan

Dec 27, 2010, 12:22 GMT

   Islamabad - Unmanned US aircraft on Monday targeted a vehicle and compound in Pakistan's restive tribal region along the Afghan border, killing at least 18 suspected militants, intelligence officials said.

   Both strikes were carried out in the Mir Ali area, a major city in the North Waziristan tribal district, where Taliban and al-Qaeda militants are believed to have bases.

   An intelligence official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said a US drone fired three missiles into a vehicle near a roadside security check post. 'All six people riding in the car died on the spot,' he said.

   Few minutes later, another drone fired five missiles into a compound in the village of Mir Khan Khel Kaley.

   'Parts of the compound are demolished, and the locals have pulled out 12 bodies from the rubble,' the official said. 'Several people are injured.'

   US forces have intensified their drone campaign in Pakistan's tribal region. More than 100 strikes this year have killed more than 600 people.

   Early this month, four drone strikes within 24 hours in the Khyber tribal district killed more than 50 people.

   Pakistani intelligence officials said most of those killed were suspected Taliban fighters and militants linked with al-Qaeda, but those claims could not be confirmed independently because journalists and aid workers have limited access to the area.