Posted on 10/29/2006 7:26:27 PM PST by jimbo123
KHAR, Pakistan - Pakistani troops backed by helicopters firing missiles destroyed an al-Qaida-linked training facility in a northwestern tribal area near the Afghan border Monday, killing "many" militants, officials said.
The pre-dawn attack targeted a religious school - known as a madrassa - holding 70-80 militants in a village near the town of Khar, the main town in the Bajur tribal district, said army spokesman Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan.
Sultan said the facility was destroyed but it was not immediately clear how many people had been killed.
The attack came two days after 5,000 pro-Taliban tribesmen held an anti-American rally in Damadola, a Bajur-area village close to the site of an alleged U.S. missile attack that killed several al-Qaida members and civilians in January.
"We received confirmed intelligence reports that 70-80 militants were hiding in a madrassa used as a terrorist-training facility, which was destroyed by an army strike, led by helicopters," Sultan said.
Soldiers on the ground were tallying the number of dead, said Sultan.
An Associated Press reporter living in the area said he saw several helicopters hovering near his house early Monday before hearing a series of explosions, apparently caused by missiles being fired into the madrassa compound.
Helicopters fired four to five rockets into the madrassa, which was run by Liaquat Hussain, a local Islamic cleric who is believed to have been sheltering al-Qaida militants, Sultan said.
A senior intelligence official in Bajur also said that a local al-Qaida leader, Faqir Mohammed, who led Saturday's protest rally, was believed to have been inside the madrassa that was targeted.
It was unclear if Mohammed was among those killed, said the official, who declined to be identified further because he was unauthorized to speak to the media.
Nice to see were getting some return on all that money were giving Mushey
An Associated Press reporter living in the area?????
Assocated Press TERRORIST living in the area...
Let me see, shouldn't we be dancing in the streets and burning the al Qaida flag(?)
No problem--just count the number of arms and legs and divide by 4.
Usual bad guy behavior...hiding among the population! Wonder which Koran verse they were rehearsing when the missles came in....just proves God is great!
Table for 80 in hell!
Count the ears and divide by two.
L
Isn't it 80 tables for 80 in Hell. No fellowship down there.
That's AP for AJ (Al Jazerra). Funny how they just happen to be in the area. I'll bet that when Osama is found that there will be an AP reporter nearby.
"...a religious school - known as a madrassa - holding 70-80 militants..."
I'm shocked--shocked I tell you!--that a muslim religious school was being used by islamic terrorists as a training camp/barracks/pissing ground!!
(Obvious Sarcasm)
Oh, you may be right. But what are they going to do when they find out the 70 virgin thing was just a scheme?
I'll bring the lighters! And some music...Charlie Daniels, Toby Keith, Hank Williams Jr, just for starters!
Allah's Purchasing Department is busy looking for another 5,760 virgins.
Interesting story from the AP even of a WOT success
Faqir Mohammed was the one who has been hiding and protecting Ayman al-Zawahri in Pakistan.
The MSM of course will never embrace the adage, Fight 'em over there so we don't have to fight 'em over here.
Take that you Faqir!
Related article from yesterday. Faqir Mohammed was the chief speaker at this gather. Looks like we followed him back to his hiding place after the rally and blew him to bits...
Thousands of pro-Taliban tribesmen rally against America in Pakistan tribal region
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061028-1859-pakistan-protest.html
KHAR, Pakistan – About 5,000 pro-Taliban tribesmen held an anti-America rally in a remote tribal region near the Afghan border on Saturday, vowing to keep waging a holy war against “infidels.”
The rally was held 125 miles northwest of the capital Islamabad near Damadola, a village near the site of an alleged U.S. missile attack that killed several al-Qaeda members and civilians in January.
The missile attack prompted protests against Washington.
“We are mujahedeen (holy warriors) and we will continue jihad against Americans and their allies,” said Faqir Mohammed, a pro-Taliban leader who is being sought by Pakistani security forces for allegedly backing foreign militants.
Mohammed said he was not afraid of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf or the coalition forces in Afghanistan.
“Any one who supports Americans is our enemy,” he said.
More help from Pakistan. This is very good news.
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