US drones kill at least 13 in Pakistan

Two US drone attacks struck Islamist militants in Pakistan's tribal badlands yesterday, killing at least 13 fighters in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, officials said. At least eight foreigners were among those killed when missiles destroyed a vehicle near the town of Mir Ali, about 30 kilometres east of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, the Pakistani officials said. The United States says Pakistan's tribal belt provides sanctuary to Taliban fighting in Afghanistan, al-Qaeda groups plotting attacks on the West, and Pakistani Taliban who routinely bomb Pakistan and other foreign fighters. Thursday's attack was confirmed by two other Pakistani security officials in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan region, known as Pakistan's chief bastion of Taliban and al-Qaeda linked militants. Security officials said several other militants were wounded, but the exact number was not immediately known. The latest attack came exactly a week after Pakistani officials said Badar Mansoor, described as the "de facto leader of Al-Qaeda in Pakistan" was killed in a drone strike in North Waziristan.