(Previous Incident Code: Ob335 )

Up to six civilians were killed and four others injured in airstrikes in North Waziristan. The majority of sources reported that those killed were militants but some sources did not identify them as militants. Both NBC News and Voice of America reported that the identity of those killed was not available, raising doubts as to whether they were militants. Further doubt was raised by a security official that told Dawn news that he didn’t know if the fighters were from the Haqqani network since there weren’t many of them left there. As many as eight militants were reported to have been killed.

The third strike of the month killed at least four alleged militants in the early hours – around 4-4.30am. Most sources reported as many as six missiles hit a house and a vehicle on the outskirts of Miranshah – the capital of North Waziristan. Some sources reported the vehicle was inside the walls of housing compound when the strike hit while others were less specific.

However AFP reported six missiles fired by two drones hit three houses. The agency also quoted a local security official in Miranshah as saying: ‘US drones fired six missiles which hit three separate compounds in two villages, at least five militants have been killed.’ The attacks reportedly hit minutes apart with two drones firing four missiles in the first strike and a third firing two more missiles in the second. A vehicle parked in one of the housing compounds was hit, a senior security official said.

The Wall Street Journal reported the strike struck a Haqqani Network compound, adding: ‘A store and at least two vehicles were destroyed.’ However, a security official told Dawn the attack hit near a Haqqani Network-run seminary, killing four people although ‘we don’t know if they were fighters of the Haqqani network.’ The official added: ‘But they do not appear to be militant leaders. There aren’t too many of them left here.’ He continued: ‘What is left of the Haqqani network now is its leader Siraj Haqqani and the son of another leader killed in a drone strike.’

The Pakistan government condemned the strike which came amid Zarb e Azb – a Pakistani military offensive against terrorists in North Waziristan. Soldiers, tanks and airstrikes were reportedly being used against militant positions. Official sources said at least 187 alleged militants had been killed by June 18 as well as a handful of Pakistani soldiers. Aid agencies have estimated as many as 400,000 people may be displaced by the operation, the Wall Street Journal reported.