Islamabad: An American drone today struck
the suspected hideout of Afghan Taliban warlord Sirajuddin
Haqqani in Pakistan's north Waziristan, killing 13 militants,
most of them from Afghanistan.
In the pre-dawn strike, the predator drone targetted
the house in Danday Darpakhel area of North Waziristan
believed to be used by Sirajuddin. The house was razed to a
rubble.
Witnesses said 13 bodies were pulled out of the
rubble. Several of the injured were reported to be in a
critical condition, TV channels reported.
There was no immediate information whether the strike
had taken out Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan warlord who
operates on both sides of the border. But, three women were
confirmed among those killed, reports said.
Indications that a high-value target could be involved
came as militants surrounded the compound and were using
tractors to extricate the bodies and the debris, local
residents said.
Reports said most of the people living in the compound
targeted by the drone belonged to Afghanistan. Five houses
were demolished in the attack.
Danday Darpakhel is known to have hideouts belonging
to the Haqqani network which is run by Sirajuddin. The same
village was hit last October, in a strike that left 11
militants, mostly foreigners, dead.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, August 21, 2009, 18:28