Missile Hits 'al-Qaeda Haven' in Pakistan

A missile struck a house in South Waziristan, the volatile Pakistani region bordering Afghanistan, killing 10 suspected militants and wounding 7 others. The house was known to be a safe haven for members of al-Qaeda, and most of the casualties are believed to have been Arabs, Reuters reports. A spokesman for Pakistan's military said he had no knowledge of the attack, and a security official said he believe the strike was launched by US forces in Afghanistan.

American forces have fired missiles on the Pakistani side of the border, most recently in a late January attack by a pilotless drone against a top al-Qaeda deputy. Pakistan has forcefully insisted that no foreign troops be allowed to operate in its territory, and the US has never confirmed its sorties into Pakistan. The Waziristan region has become a sanctuary not only for al-Qaeda members but for the so-called Pakistan Taliban. (More Pakistan stories.)