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US drone strike in Pakistan kills eight suspected militants
News Date: 8th January 2013
A US missile strike in north-western Pakistan killed an al-Qaeda member and at least seven other militants Tuesday, an intelligence official said.
Several missiles struck two compounds in Haider Khel village near Mir Ali, the second-biggest town in the North Waziristan tribal district, near the Afghan border, according to the official who spoke
on the condition of anonymity.
"Al-Qaeda figure Sheikh Yaseen al-Somali was among those killed in the pre-dawn attack," the official said.
Al-Somali, described as deputy head of al-Qaeda's training wing for Afghanistan and Pakistan, was believed to have taken refuge in North Waziristan two years ago.
The Pakistani intelligence officer said the identities of the other dead had not been determined. At least three people were also injured in the drone strike, the fourth this year.
Islamabad has consistently opposed the US drone strikes, saying they are not only illegal but also counterproductive as collateral civilian casualties stoke support for the Taliban insurgency.
Source: GNA
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