(Previous Incident Code: B41 )

The US reportedly carried out its first publicly known drone strike outside FATA, killing up to 13 people, possibly counting three civilians, and wounding seven, local and international media reported, as the strike generated tensions between the Pakistani government and the US.

Though the US allegedly also carried out a strike outside FATA (on December 3rd, 2007), this strike was the first one known to the public, and was most likely aimed at the Quetta Shura, the ruling council of militant groups in the region. The Nation, citing a local official, said that the targeted house was located in northwestern Bannu district, on the border of the tribal territory.

Reports noted between five, seven and in one case, 13 fatalities, all mostly described as militants, including up to five “foreigners.”

According to the US embassy, the early morning attack killed at least al Qaeda’s Abdullah Azzam al Saudiand four others; one Arab, two Turkmen (or four Turkmen according to the Express), and one alleged local fighter named as Rafiullah.

However, some reports suggested that civilians were among the killed and wounded. The local tribal administration’s internal drone strike recordsshowed three people were killed, including an unspecified number of civilians.

Also, The Express said that seven were injured though only one man, house owner Sakhi Mohammed Wazir, required hospital treatment. Renting the house was a ‘Taliban militant’ named as Dilberor Darpand. However local policeman Mohammad Alam insisted all those killed were locals.

The attack provoked Pakistani outrage. In a secret cable the US Ambassador wrote back to Washington:

“The first strike within ‘Pakistan proper’ is seen as a watershed event, and the media is suggesting this could herald the spread of attacks to Peshawar or Islamabad. Even politicians who have no love lost for a dead terrorist are concerned by strikes within what is considered mainland Pakistan.

Pakistani politicians of all stripes, including those from the most ardently anti-terrorist parties, are facing growing political pressure to condemn U.S. attacks. As the gap between private GOP acquiescence and public condemnation for U.S. action grows, Pakistani leaders who feel they look increasingly weak to their constituents could begin considering stronger action against the U.S., even though the response to date has focused largely on ritual denunciation.”

Local militants also reported that they would carry out attacks in Pakistan-proper as a result of Islamabad’s alleged complicity in the CIA strikes. And local MP Adnan Khan demanded that ‘the government immediately stops these attacks.’

The US is yet to officially confirm its involvement in this strike.