US Predators strike in Waziristan - 13 civilians killed including 10 women and children

At 3.30 am on Staurday, a US Predator drone fired two Hellfire missiles at the house of a tribesman Tariq Hussain at Dund village in Datakhel, an area very close to the Afghan borderin North Waziristan tribal region and killed 13 people including women and children

Locals said five children and five women among the 13 victims of the attack which completely destroyed the house.

Recent reports suggested that the US is planning to expand the strikes to southwestern Balochistan province. The US has already expanded the drone attacks from Waziristan to two other tribal areas — Kurram and Orakzai.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Basit said this week that Pakistan will lodge protest with the top US envoy for the region Richard Hollbroke due next week for talks with Pakistani officials on security issues

This last attack came amidst reports that Pakistan has agreed to provide information to the US for attack on Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsood, blamed by Pakistani authorities for a series of suicide attacks across the country.

Baitullah warned this week of more suicide attacks in the country to avenge of the US drone attacks inside the tribal regions. (see previous posts)