By IANS,
Islamabad : Ten people, including two women and two children, were killed when drones operated by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) fired missiles at a target in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal district.
The strike took place in Boya sub-district, some 25 km west of Miranshah, the main city of the district bordering Afghanistan. The Taliban and Al Qaida are known to use the area for staging hit-and-run raids against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
“The drones fired four missiles just before midnight at the house of a tribesman, Khyali Dawar,” Online news agency quoted the intelligence official as saying.
“Six people died, and three were injured,” the official added. Two women and two children succumbed to their injuries in hospital.
Five women and an equal number of children were injured in the strike.
Initially, a Filipino named Ilyas was said to be the target of the attack, as one Arab and four local militants also died in the attack. It was not clear if Ilyas died in the strike.
The drones flew overhead for hours, hindering rescue work. There have been several occasions when drones carried out a second strike as people gathered for relief and recovery work at a site of missile attack.
Over 900 people have been killed since the drone attacks began in August 2008.
The attacks have been a sticky point between Pakistan and the US, with Islamabad repeatedly demanding that they cease or that it be given the technology to stage them. Washington has steadfastly refused to accede to the demands, saying they are essential to its operations in Afghanistan.