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US drone strike 'kills 15' in Pakistan | US drone strike 'kills 15' in Pakistan |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A strike by an unmanned US drone aircraft has killed 15 people near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials say. | A strike by an unmanned US drone aircraft has killed 15 people near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials say. |
Two missiles are reported to have hit a suspected militant compound before dawn in Hesokhel, to the east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan. | Two missiles are reported to have hit a suspected militant compound before dawn in Hesokhel, to the east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan. |
Pakistan's foreign ministry strongly condemned the strike, calling it "illegal", Reuters news agency reports. | |
The frontier tribal region is considered a hub of activity by al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. | The frontier tribal region is considered a hub of activity by al-Qaeda and Taliban militants. |
There have been eight US drone strikes in the past two weeks despite Pakistani demands for them to be stopped. | There have been eight US drone strikes in the past two weeks despite Pakistani demands for them to be stopped. |
In the latest incident, the first missile struck the compound in Hesokhel before dawn, killing three militants, security officials said. | In the latest incident, the first missile struck the compound in Hesokhel before dawn, killing three militants, security officials said. |
A second missile then killed 12 more militants who had arrived at the scene, they added. | A second missile then killed 12 more militants who had arrived at the scene, they added. |
The bodies of the suspected militants have not yet been identified, but there were unconfirmed reports that foreigners were among the dead. | The bodies of the suspected militants have not yet been identified, but there were unconfirmed reports that foreigners were among the dead. |
US President Barack Obama personally approves every single drone strike against suspected terrorists, so he can take full moral responsibility for the deaths these cause. | US President Barack Obama personally approves every single drone strike against suspected terrorists, so he can take full moral responsibility for the deaths these cause. |
That is the main thrust of a long, detailed and fascinating piece in the New York Times. | That is the main thrust of a long, detailed and fascinating piece in the New York Times. |
It comes as Experts have been telling me that the president is wrong to see drones as a "silver bullet" that solves some critical problems about the morality and efficacy of America's use of military power. | It comes as Experts have been telling me that the president is wrong to see drones as a "silver bullet" that solves some critical problems about the morality and efficacy of America's use of military power. |
It is the eighth and deadliest attack since 23 March, marking a considerable upsurge in the use of the controversial US drone programme, reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad. | It is the eighth and deadliest attack since 23 March, marking a considerable upsurge in the use of the controversial US drone programme, reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad. |
It has come about since a deal to reopen Nato supply routes through Pakistan fell through. | It has come about since a deal to reopen Nato supply routes through Pakistan fell through. |
The Pakistani government closed the routes six months ago in protest at a US air strike along the Afghan border in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, an episode which contributed to the current crisis in relations between Washington and Islamabad, our correspondent adds. | The Pakistani government closed the routes six months ago in protest at a US air strike along the Afghan border in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, an episode which contributed to the current crisis in relations between Washington and Islamabad, our correspondent adds. |
Pakistan says the drone attacks fuel anti-US sentiment and claim civilian casualties along with militants. The US insists the strikes are effective. | Pakistan says the drone attacks fuel anti-US sentiment and claim civilian casualties along with militants. The US insists the strikes are effective. |
The strike comes days after more details of the Obama administration's drone policy emerged in the US. | The strike comes days after more details of the Obama administration's drone policy emerged in the US. |
Administration officials told the New York Times that Mr Obama and top security officials regularly consult on adding militants to a drone "kill list" - and said the US president personally approves or vetoes each strike. | Administration officials told the New York Times that Mr Obama and top security officials regularly consult on adding militants to a drone "kill list" - and said the US president personally approves or vetoes each strike. |