Drone strike kills 4 in NWA

Friday, June 15, 2012 - Miranshah—In yet another drone attack on a house in Miranshah Bazar of North Waziristan Agency on Thursday, at least four persons were killed and several others injured.

According to sources, the US drone fired two missiles on a house early in the morning.

“Fear prevailed in the area as almost five drones were flying in the air,” locals said.

It was the second drone strike in 12 hours. Earlier a US drone fired two missiles on a vehicle, killing at least two people in the area on Wednesday.

There has been a dramatic increase in US drone strikes in Pakistan since a Nato summit in Chicago ended last month without a deal to end a six-month blockade on Nato supplies crossing into Afghanistan. A drone attack killed 15 militants in North Waziristan on June 4, including senior al Qaeda figure Abu Yahya al-Libi.

The UN human rights chief has called for an investigation into civilian casualties. UN chief Ban Ki-moon had urged states to be “more transparent” about circumstances in which drones are used and take necessary precautions to ensure that the attacks involving drones comply with applicable international law.—INP