An American drone once again struck a suspected militant camp in Pakistan. 12 people are dead, and 13 more are wounded, residents of Khadizai village tell Reuters.
It's the first known attack since President Obama announced his new war strategy for the region -- one that places heavy emphasis on destroying jihadist networks in Pakistan. The President pledged that no ground troops would be sent into Pakistan, to take out the terrorists. So the unmanned strikes are likely to increase, Pentagon officials tell Danger Room.
According to the New York Times, the attack was "apparently aimed at one of the area’s most important Taliban leaders, Hakimullah Mehsud" -- but missed. He's a top lieutenant to Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who took credit earlier this week for the slaughter in a Lahore police training compound. "It's revenge for the drone attacks in Pakistan," he told Reuters. Separately, Mehsud told the Associated Press: "Soon, we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world."
Today's unmanned strike "was the first drone attack" in Pakistan's Orakzai agency, Reuters reports. It had been considered "one of the most peaceful Pashtun regions in northwest Pakistan."
[Spotter: @BreakingNews; photo: USAF]
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