Miramshah airstrike
| Miranshah airstrike | |
|---|---|
| Part of War in North-West Pakistan | |
 | |
| Type | Aerial attack |
| Location | |
| Target | Taliban figure |
| Date | September 8, 2008 |
| Executed by | United States |
| Casualties | 12 killed |
The Miranshah airstrike took place on Friday 12 September in Miranshah in North Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan. It comes after a series. It was carried out by a United States Air Force drone aircraft and is part of the U.S escalation of attacks in Waziristan, taking advantage of the power vacuum in Pakistan, following its recent change of presidents and governments. The missiles hit two buildings - in one three women and two children were killed, and in the other seven Taleban militants died.
President George W. Bush had two months prior to this attack issued a classified order to authorise US raids against militants in Pakistan without prior approval from Islamabad.
| Stepping up. US attacks in Pakistan in 2008 (Deathtolls in brackets) | |
|---|---|
| 29 January | Airstrike (1), North Waziristan |
| 28 February | Airstrike (13), South Waziristan |
| 16 March | Damadola airstrike (20), Bajour |
| 28 July | Airstrike (6), South Waziristan |
| 13 August | Airstrike (10), South Waziristan |
| 31 August | Airstrike (5), South Waziristan |
| 3 September | Angoor Ada raid (20), South Waziristan |
| 4 September | Airstike (4), North Waziristan |
| 5 September | Airstrike (5), North Waziristan |
| 8 September | Daande Darpkhel airstrike (23), North Waziristan |
| 12 September | Miranshah airstrike (12), North Waziristan |
The attack comes at the same time as American and international troops are fighting Taleban and al-Qaeda militants close by in neighbouring Afghanistan. The upsurge in strikes has alarmed Pakistani military and government officials, who say it seriously undermines their counter-insurgency operations. Pakistan has repeatedly stated, that it will not allow foreign forces onto its territory and that it will vigorously protect its sovereignty. It says that cross border raids are not the best way of fighting the "war against terror". [1]
See also
Template:Civilian deaths from military operations in Aghanistan/Pakistan
References
- ^ 'Another US strike' hits Pakistan - BBC News, 12 September 2008