US drone kills 12 rebels in Pakistan

Drones from the United States targeted Al-Qaeda and Taliban-linked compounds in Pakistan's tribal northwest Wednesday, killing 12 fighters, security officials said, adding that it was the third deadly strike in 24 hours.

US drone in Afghanistan AFP

The attack was directed at the Haqqani network, which is believed to be one of the biggest threats to security for foreign forces in neighbouring Afghanistan.

It is still unknown whether any high-value target was among those killed, an intelligence official said.

Three of the rebels were also wounded in the strike.

US missiles had also killed 15 fighters in two separate attacks Tuesday in the same region.

This month alone, US drone strikes have killed 76 Islamist fighters in the tribal belt on the Afghan border, an area which Washington believes to be Al-Qaeda’s world headquarters and the most dangerous spot on earth.

The Taliban last week threatened Pakistani security forces with more suicide attacks in retaliation for the US missile strikes.

US officials say the drone strikes are necessary to protect foreign troops in Afghanistan and have been very effective, killing a number of high officials, including Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud as well as Al-Qaeda number three leader and Osama bin Laden's one-time treasurer Mustafa Abu al-Yazid.

Over 1,080 people have been killed in scores of drone strikes in Pakistan since August 2008.