Suspected U.S. drones have launched two missile attacks on Taliban
targets in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 35 suspected
militants.
Intelligence officials say missiles fired from an unmanned drone
aircraft hit a convoy of vehicles carrying Taliban militants in South
Waziristan. At least 25 militants were killed.
Earlier Wednesday, a separate strike on a Taliban training camp killed
as many as 10 militants. On Tuesday, a similar attack killed 14 foreign
and Pakistani militants in the region.
South Waziristan is a longtime militant stronghold and home to
Baitullah Mehsud, a top Taliban commander wanted by both the Pakistani
and U.S. governments.
Meanwhile, Pakistani military officials say the commander of the Taliban in the northwestern Swat Valley has been wounded.
A military spokesman said Wednesday there is credible information that
Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah was hurt during a recent airstrike.
Officials gave no details about his condition.
Pakistan's military has been fighting Taliban militants throughout the
country's northwest for more than two months. Recently, the operations
have included airstrikes against militant targets in South Waziristan,
including Baitullah Mehsud.
The militant commander is blamed for scores of suicide bombings and
guerrilla attacks against government and civilian targets, and is
believed to be a key facilitator for al-Qaida fighters in Pakistan.
Also Wednesday, police in the northwestern city Peshawar say a suicide
bomber detonated an explosive on a busy road killing himself and
wounding several others.