US missiles struck a training facility operated by Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and a militant communication centre on Friday, killing 17 people and wounding 27 others, intelligence officials said. The two attacks by drone aircraft took place in South Waziristan, a Mehsud stronghold close to the Afghan border where Pakistani troops are gearing up for a military offensive, two officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The drone attacks were the latest in a string of more than 40 believed to have been be carried out by the United States against militant targets in the border area since last August. Washington does not directly acknowledge being responsible for the attacks, which kill civilians as well as militants.
In one attack Friday, two missiles struck an abandoned seminary in the village of Mantoi that was being used by militants from Mehsud's group for training, the officials said. In the other strike, one missile hit an insurgent communications center in the nearby village of Kokat Khel, they said.
In total, 17 people were killed and 27 others were wounded, they said. However, Maulvi Noor Syed, an aide to Mehsud, told The Associated Press that three Taliban fighters died in the strikes. ``We lost only three mujahedeen (holy warriors) in today's American missile attack,' Syed said.
``These attacks cannot cause any damage to us.' Access to the rugged, dangerous region is strictly controlled, and the death toll could not be independently verified. The drone attack came as US Marines in neighbouring Afghanistan pushed deeper in the southern Helmand province, a day after 4,000 Marines launched a major anti-Taliban offensive. Pakistan said it moved troops to the stretch of its border opposite Helmand to stop militants fleeing the American assault.
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