US drone attacks kill 10 militants in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - At least 10 militants were killed in two attacks by unmanned aircraft in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border Wednesday, security officials said.

Both airstrikes took place in North Waziristan district, known to be used by Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters to launch cross-border raids on international troops in Afghanistan.

In the first attack, a US drone targeted a mud compound believed to be a hideout of militants in Daande Darpakhel village around 10:15 a.m. (0415 GMT).

“According to the reports we have received, six militants were killed and several injured,” said an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official said the compound belonged to Maulvi Azizullah, a member of the Haqqani network, and was used as an office for the Taliban.

The Haqqani network is led by Afghan warlord Sirajuddin Haqqani and is believed to have been behind dozens of deadly attacks in Afghanistan.

Another drone fired two missiles at a vehicle carrying four people in Datta Khel village, a few km from the Afghan border, two hours after the first attack.

“Three people died on the spot while one succumbed to his injuries at a hospital,” said a second intelligence official. “They were from the Haqqani network.”

The airstrikes were the fifth and sixth in less than a week.