U.S. missile strikes in northwest Pakistan killed up to 20 people on Friday, including a mid-level al Qaeda leader said to be an Iraqi, Pakistani officials said.
One intelligence official identified the al Qaeda leader as Abu Akash. His real name was believed to be Abdur Rehman, another security official said.
"He is a mid-level al Qaeda man who was leading a high-profile life in Mir Ali," said the intelligence official, who declined to be identified, referring to the second biggest town in the North Waziristan region on the Afghan border.
Two missiles were fired by a pilotless "drone" aircraft into a house in Mir Ali, a major sanctuary for foreign Islamist militants including Arabs, and Central Asians, another intelligence official said.
A witness said the house was ablaze after the strike. Between 15 and 20 people were believed to have been killed.
Friday, October 31, 2008
[NEWS] Al Qaeda Militant Killed
Reuters reports:
