 US Predators struck for the first time in a week in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of South Waziristan today, killing 13 "militants," according to reports from the region.
The remotely-piloted Predators or the more deadly Reapers fired four missiles at a vehicle traveling in the village of Kond Ghalay Pnaga in the Birmal area of South Waziristan. Thirteen "militants" were killed in the strike, according to SAMAA.
The target of the strike is unclear.
| ...although probably he was in that vehicle... |
The strike took place in an area close to the border of North Waziristan, and is used by fighters loyal to Taliban Hafiz Gul Bahadar as well as the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan.
| Perhaps someday we'll learn whether the UAVs followed them home from a raid, followed them out from a meeting/safe house, or even homed in on a cell phone signal. There are so many possibilities when UAVs are involved! |
Also today in North Waziristan a Taliban commander named Shakirullah Shakir was reported to have been gunned down while riding a motorcycle near Miramshah. Shakir is a spokesman for the Fedayeen-e-Islam, the suicide squad for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan. Shakir has claimed the Fedayeen-e-Islam executed suicide attacks in Lahore in September 2010 and January 2011. Most recently, Shakir boasted that more than 1,000 suicide bombers were training at three camps in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan.
| Perhaps relatives of someone in Lahore decided to act on his grief and anger... or perhaps the Pakistani authorities are tired of him applying his skills on the wrong side of the border. |
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