Drone squadron rains missiles on SWA; 10 killed

PESHAWAR - At least 10 militants were killed and 12 others sustained injuries when US drones fired several missiles in South Waziristan Agency on Thursday. Five missiles were fired on two alleged training camps of militants in Shah Alam village located a few kilometres away west of Wana, headquarters of South Waziristan Agency, sources said. Both training camps were located in the same area. Three US drones were seen flying in the area at a low altitude, sources further said. Pro-government militant leader Maulvi Nazir controls the targeted area. Bodies were badly mutilated which were retrieved by the locals while the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. The identity of the killed and injured militants could not be ascertained. Shah Alam village is located in a highly mountainous part of the South Waziristan Agency close to the Afghan border. Witnesses said the missiles struck at 11:00am. Reuters/AFP add: Local administration official Hamayun Khan told AFP that up to three drone aircraft were in the area, first firing two missiles killing two militants, then firing two more as the rebels gathered to recover the bodies. This target was a training camp and a portion in same building used as an office by Taliban commander Malang, Khan said. We have a confirmed report of seven militants killed, but militants are still digging out the bodies. A military official said that nine suspected insurgents were killed in the strikes in the Shulam area of South Waziristan. Four of those killed were local militants and five were foreigners, said a military official in the area who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media. It was not immediately clear if Wali was killed or not, he added. The official said the foreigners were Arabs and Turkmenistan nationals, but could not confirm their identities. Staff Reporter from Darra Adamkhel adds: At least 90 suspected militants were reportedly arrested from various parts of the Darra Adamkhel by the security forces in a crackdown on Thursday. During the search operation launched by the security forces, some 90 militants were apprehended from Bostikhel and Sheraki areas of the Khyber Agency. The security forces also targeted militants positions in Bostikhel and Tor Chhapra area.

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