Death toll from two US drone strikes in Pakistan rises to 10

M&C.com, Oct 16, 2010

Islamabad – The death toll rose to 10 in two suspected US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal region along the Afghan border, security officials said Saturday.

Unmanned drone aircraft fired six missiles into two suspected militant hideouts in Meer Ali area of North Waziristan tribal district, a known hotbed of fighters allegedly linked to Taliban and al-Qaeda.

‘A drone fired four missiles at around midnight on Friday at a compound which Taliban were using as their centre,’ said an intelligence official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

‘Five people died, and three more were injured,’ he said.

Hours earlier, another missile strike targeted a vehicle and killed four alleged militants.

The US military has stepped up attacks in North Waziristan, from where insurgents frequently move across the border to attack international troops in Afghanistan, officials said.

Pakistan has publicly protested the attacks, but it is widely believed that state intelligence agencies coordinate with the US to identify the potential targets.