US drone strike kills senior Al-Qaeda leader in S Waziristan

Three persons, including a senior Al-Qaeda leader were killed in a drone strike in South Waziristan area of Pakisatan, the The Express Tribune reported on Sunday.

According a security official, Abdur Rahman Yamani was in his house located in Ghwa Khwa near Wana area, when a US drone fired two missiles and killed him, reports added. The official added that militants from nearby areas rushed to the site and surrounded the areas after the assault.

Sources said that a drone had also targeted a vehicle close to the house. An earlier drone strike in the Lawa Kanda area of South Waziristan had killed two militants. There were at least three drone attacks in the Miranshah area of North Waziristan in October.

On October 11, 18 insurgents, most reportedly Afghans, were killed in a drone strike in the nearby tribal region of Orakzai in the deadliest attack in more than a year

On October 24, a US drone fired two missiles at a suspected militant compound in Miranshah, killing three people, security officials had said. Locals had said three cows, apparently meant for sacrifice on Eidul Azha, were also killed in the attack.

US drone strikes have been slammed by the Pakistan government, terming them as a violation of sovereignty, but US officials believe they are a vital weapon against militants.