(Previous Incident Code: Ob169 )

An alleged US strike killed four militants in Khadar Khel, north Waziristan, hereof two British citizens, local and international media reported. Two unidentified people were also wounded, possible civilians.

Multiple reports described how what was identified as Predator drone fired up to four Hellfire missiles, targeting a car carrying alleged militants, killing four passengers and wounding another two.

While there were no reports of civilian deaths, one single source, Xinhua, reported that two “others” were left wounded. Until further details about their identify are disclosed, they will be treated as possible being civilians.

Among four alleged militants killed were two British Muslim converts, identified by their noms de geurre as Abu Bakr and Mansoor Ahmed – aged 45 and 25. Other names attributed to the men include Stephen/ Stephan (Smith), and Dearsmith or Darry Smith.  The British Foreign Office at the time said: “We are aware of media reports of the death of two British nationals in Pakistan. Our high commission in Pakistan is seeking further information.” Reports later claimed the two dead Britons were part of a new militant group known as the Islamic Army of Great Britain, reportedly formed in May 2010 by “200 militants, many of them dual-citizens of the UK, France and Germany.’” The others killed were described as “tribal militants.”

Journalist Shafiq Ahmad later reported: “Both [Britons] came to North Waziristan in November 2009 and reportedly joined al-Qaeda.One of the local tribal militants killed with them was identified as Salim Wazir, son of Bakht Gul. Identity of the second tribal militant killed in the drone strike could not be ascertained. The two British nationals were secretly laid to rest at a graveyard reserved for foreign fighters in Datta Khel town near the border with Afghanistan. The body of the local militant was handed over to his family and was buried in his ancestral graveyard.”

The attack coincided with a demonstration in Islamabad by civilian victims of drone strikes.