Posted on 02/29/2008 10:09:56 AM PST by gandalftb
PESHAWAR - At least 13 militants, including some foreigners, were killed and 11 others were critically injured as three missiles, allegedly fired by the US forces, hit a house in Kaloshah area of Wana District in South Waziristan Agency on Thursday, eyewitnesses said.
However, the locals informed that three missiles fired from an unknown direction hit the house of Malik Khel Wazir at Shero Village, Kaloshah Azam Warsak area at midnight, killing at least 12 people, mostly foreigners, and injuring 11 others critically.
Exact identity and strength of the foreigners killed in the incident has not yet been determined, but the locals informed that they were either from Arab countries or Central Asia.
An Al-Qaeda fugitive from Egypt is also reported to be among them.
However, the officials claimed that there was a seminary near the house, which was used by the militants as a shelter. It is highly believed that the US forces, either from Afghanistan side or from Arabian Sea, fired the missiles. Residents of Azam Warsak village in South Waziristan told AFP that a house was blown up by a missile fired from a pilotless drone and the loud blast was heard kilometres away in the rugged valley. “A house used as a den by Al-Qaeda and Afghan Taliban militants was hit by a missile. Thirteen people were killed and around 10 were wounded,” a senior Pakistani security official told AFP. The militants were using the house as an “operational base” for attacks on NATO-led and US troops in Afghanistan, as well as a meeting place for Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants, the official said. Chief military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told AFP that information from the area indicated that the deaths were caused by explosive material stored in a house.
(Excerpt) Read more at nation.com.pk ...
Do we have solid info that Gadahn is alive? All I heard is some Al Qaeda spokesman claimed in a Pakistan newspaper he was still living...
I have some general thoughts and points: Here’s why I think it’s Zawahiri we got. Maybe im wrong, but tell me what you think.
* Taliban leaders Obaidullah and Dadullah were both arrested in the last month. Both men are close to Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Dadullah constantly claims to have ties with Osama and in his last interview said he met a few months back with Zawahiri.
* The area we hit is believed to be the area where Ayman Al-Zawahiri is hiding. (if you believe numerous reports and articles)
* Asia Times Online claims that hideout was a meeting spot for high-level terrorist leaders. Zawahiri had been there before.
* The Taliban and Al Qaeda have been killing like crazy in since the strike. Over 200 people have died in Afghanistan and Pakistan since the airstrike. They seem to be irked about something.
* One of the Al-Masri’s is dead, I believe, Sheik Essa is seriously wounded and not traveling, Saif Al-Adel is most likely still in Iran, I havent seen one single report since 2002 that’s put him in Pakistan or Afghanistan...
* Firing 3 missiles is a major strike. Whoever was in that house we REALLY didn’t want to get away. Maybe they were holding some sort of summit?
We’ll definitely know this week who it is. There’s been no new news from Al Qaeda or the US. Al Qaeda could be in chaos, not knowing how to deal with such a major MAJOR blow, hesistant to announce it until they find a new number 2. Or maybe they’re waiting for Osama to make the announement? It’s also possible that the news hasn’t reached the underlings who run the Al Qaeda websites. (although I doubt it) Also,seeing how tight Zawahiri’s security is and how secretive the top 2 leaders are, maybe most of Al Qaeda doesn’t know if hes dead or alive.
Now on the our side, it’s possible that we’re trying to get 100% confirmation before any announcement. We’ve had many false alarms in the past, especially concerning Zawahiri.
Anyways, that’s my 2 cents (more like 15 cents..lol)Lets keep our fingers crossed!!!!!! The suspense is killing me!
Yuldeshev is going to be a major player in the future, AQs travel agency. Kunar is going to get hot along with Nuristan, where I believe UBL frequents.
you have freep mail ;o)
Only 13? That is a small wedding party.
Goatboy has been strangely silent of late. Is it possible a Hellfire has sent him to his eternal reward, as well?
I don’t think so, his DNA isn’t there, AQ says he’s alive, our guys say we didn’t get him. The notebook was one of many that he set up for AQ. Just a matter of time.
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