(Previous Incident Code: B37 )

The US allegedly carried out two strikes in Pakistan on October 31st, one of them in Asori, north Waziristan, that killed up to 25 people, which – according to a single source which offered no citation –  also counted civilians. Though some reports, including Taliban sources, contested the high casualty numbers.

Following the strike, Urkunet reported: “In the first attack, a remotely-controlled, unmanned Predator plane launched missiles into the home of a local cleric in the village of Asori, in the agency of North Waziristan. It then fired more missiles at a vehicle attempting to leave the scene. It is believed that 24 people died, including women and children.”

However, most sources reported that the attack allegedly killed al Qaeda’s propaganda boss (or ‘low level militant’) Egyptian Abu Jihad al Masri (aka Mohammad Hasan Khalil al Hakim) and leader Abu Kasha or Akash. However, the latter appeared to be alive as of August 2011, though as Dawn reported: “A son of Abu Akash was killed with Al Qaeda leader Abu Hamza Rabia in a missile attack in the same village on Nov 30, 2005.” The reputed house of Amanullah or Sher Zaman was set on fire in the attack, which also destroyed a vehicle. A local intelligence official told agencies:

“The house was demolished and caught fire. People were trying to pull out the dead and the injured from the rubble but the fire was hampered their efforts,” adding that 20-25 people were killed, including Abu Akash and his four colleagues

According to AFP, citing a senior Pakistani security official, three militants were killed: “The strike was aimed at a vehicle carrying Abu Jihad and two others. The target was successfully hit and all three people were killed.”

All sources blamed the US, though the  strike has not been confirmed by US officials.