View source for Drone attacks in Pakistan

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{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Drone attacks in Pakistan
|partof= the [[War on Terrorism]], [[War in North-West Pakistan]], [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]
|image= [[File:Damadola airstrike builduing destruction.jpg|305px]]
|caption= Pakistani tribal villagers view damage caused by the [[Damadola airstrike]]
|date=[[June 18]], [[2004]] - Present
|place=[[Federally Administered Tribal Areas|FATA]], [[Pakistan]]
|casus=
|territory=
|status=Ongoing
|combatant1=[[Image:Roundel of the USAF.svg|30px|link=United States Air Force|United States Air Force]] [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]]<br />[[File:CIA.svg|30px|link=Central Intelligence Agency|Central Intelligence Agency]] [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]
|combatant2={{Flag icon|Afghanistan|Taliban}} [[Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan]]<br />{{Flag icon|Afghanistan|Taliban}}  [[Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi|TNSM]]<br /> {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda.svg}}  [[al-Qaeda]] <br />[[Image:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Lashkar-e-Islam]]<br>[[Image:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Mujahideen|Foreign Mujahideen]]<br>[[Image:Flag of Jihad.svg|22px]] [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]]
|commander1=
|commander2=
|strength1=
|strength2=
|casualties1=9 (CIA & other intel agents)
|casualties2=Total killed: 1,760 (As of September 26, 2010)<ref name="Casualties">[http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones The Year of the Drone An Analysis of U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan, 2004-2010]</ref>
|casualties3=
}}
{{Campaignbox Waziristan}}
{{Campaignbox US war in Afghanistan}}
The [[United States government]], led by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s [[Special Activities Division]], has made a series of attacks on targets in northwest [[Pakistan]] since 2004 using drones ([[unmanned aerial vehicles]]).<ref name="The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan">[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1900248,00.html The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan], [[TIME]], 2009-06-01</ref> Under the [[George W. Bush administration]], these controversial attacks were called a part of the US' "[[War on Terrorism]]" and sought to defeat the [[Taliban]] and [[Al-Qaeda]] militants who were thought to have found a safe haven in Pakistan.<ref name="The CIA's Silent War in Pakistan"/>  Most of these attacks are on targets in the [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]] in Northwest Pakistan.

These strikes are mostly carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operated remotely from [[Creech Air Force Base]] and have continued under the [[Presidency of Barack Obama]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/world/asia/24pstan.html Strikes in Pakistan Underscore Obama’s Options], [[The New York Times]], 2009-01-23</ref><ref>Shah, Saeed. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/24/drone-aircraft-pakistan-al-qaida "Deadly pilotless aircraft that have helped fuel anti-American feeling in tribal belt"], [[The Guardian]], 2008-11-24.</ref> Generally the UAVs used are [[MQ-1 Predator]] and more recently [[MQ-9 Reaper]] firing [[AGM-114 Hellfire]] missiles.  The drones have become a weapon of choice for the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/17uav.html Drones: The weapon of choice in fighting Al Qaeda], [[The New York Times]], 2009-03-17</ref> Some media refer to the series of attacks as a ''"drone war"''.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSx0O9rqfroVdyJRvKzbpSTdhemw No let-up in US drone war in Pakistan]</ref><ref>[http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2009/drone_war_13672 The Drone War]</ref>
Pakistan's government publicly condemns these attacks but has secretly shared intelligence with Americans<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/world/asia/12drone.html Qaeda Planner in Pakistan Killed by Drone], [[The New York Times]], 2009-12-11</ref> and also allowed the drones to operate from [[Shamsi airfield]] in Pakistan.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/pakistan-permits-cia-base-for-strikes/story-e6frg6t6-1111118893683  Pakistan allowing CIA to use airbase for drone strikes], [[The Australian]], 2009-02-19</ref>

==Statistics==
{| border="1"  style="border-collapse:collapse;"
|+US Drone Strike Statistics<ref name="Casualties">[http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones The Year of the Drone An Analysis of U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan, 2004-2010]</ref>
! style="background:#aabccc;"|Year
! style="background:#aabccc;"|Number of Drone Strikes
! style="background:#aabccc;"|Total Killed
|-
|style="text-align:center;"|2004
| style="text-align:center;"|1
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2005
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|7
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2006
| style="text-align:center;"|2
| style="text-align:center;"|23
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2007
| style="text-align:center;"|4
| style="text-align:center;"|74
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2008
| style="text-align:center;"|33
| style="text-align:center;"|296
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2009
| style="text-align:center;"|53
| style="text-align:center;"|709
|- style="background:#fff;"
|style="text-align:center;"|2010
| style="text-align:center;"|74
| style="text-align:center;"|646
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#fff; background:#e9e9e9;"
|| '''Total'''
||'''169'''
||'''1,760'''
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#fff;"
||''Projection for 2010''
||''92''
||''824''
|}

==Timeline==
===2004 - 2007===
*'''June 18, 2004:''' 5 including [[Nek Muhammad Wazir]] killed in a strike near [[Wana, Pakistan|Wana]], [[South Waziristan]].<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2004/06/19/top1.htm Night raid kills Nek, four other militants: Wana operation], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2004-06-19</ref>
*'''May 14, 2005:''' 2 killed including [[Haitham al-Yemeni]] in a strike near the Afghan border in [[North Waziristan]].<ref>[http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/predator-kills-important-alqaeda-leader-in-pakistan-0547/ Predator Kills Important al-Qaeda Leader in Pakistan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''November 30, 2005:''' [[Al-Qaeda]]'s 3rd in command, [[Abu Hamza Rabia]] killed in an attack by CIA drones in Asoray, near [[Miranshah]], the capital of North Waziristan along with 4 other militants.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1504718/Al-Qaeda-number-three-killed-by-CIA-spy-plane-in-Pakistan.html Al-Qaeda number three 'killed by CIA spy plane' in Pakistan], [[The Daily Telegraph]]. 2005-12-03</ref>
*'''January 13, 2006:''' [[Damadola airstrike]] kills 18 in [[Bajaur]] but misses [[Ayman al-Zawahri]].
*'''January 16, 2007:''' Up to 30 Taliban killed in a drone strike in Salamat Keley, Zamazola, South Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6280153.stm | work=BBC News | title=Pakistan says planes used in raid | date=January 19, 2007}}</ref>
*'''April 26, 2007:''' 4 killed in the village of [[Saidgi]] in North Waziristan<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042701056.html Missile Strike in Pakistan Kills 4], [[The Washington Post]], 2007-04-27</ref>
*'''June 19, 2007:''' 30 killed in the village of [[Mami Rogha]] in North Waziristan<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/19/AR2007061901898.html Blast Kills at Least 20 in Pakistan], [[The Washington Post]], 2007-06-20</ref>
*'''November 2, 2007:''' 5 killed in an attack on a [[madrasah]] in North Waziristan<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/03/world/asia/03drone.html Missile Kills 5 in Northwest Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2007-11-03</ref>

===2008===
*'''January 29, 2008:''' [[Abu Laith al-Libi]] killed in a strike in North Waziristan along with 11 other militants.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7220823.stm Top al-Qaeda commander 'killed'], [[BBC]], 2008-02-01</ref><ref name=Reuters2009-06-18>
{{Cite news
| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE55H1FN20090618?sp=true
| title=U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan
| date=2009-06-18
| author=Augustine Anthony
| publisher=Reuters
<!--
| archiveurl=
| archivedate=2009-06-18
-->
| accessdate=2009-06-18
}}</ref>
*'''February 27, 2008:''' 12 people killed in a strike near [[Kalosha]] village in South Waziristan.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/02/200852512642126874.html Many die in Pakistan missile strike], [[Al Jazeera]], 2008-02-28</ref>
*'''March 18, 2008:''' 16 killed in a strike in South Waziristan<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1581866/Up-to-16-dead-in-Pakistan-missile-strike.html Up to 16 dead in Pakistan missile strike], [[The Daily Telegraph]], 2008-03-18</ref>
*'''May 14, 2008:''' 12 including [[Abu Sulayman Al-Jazairi]] killed near village of [[Damadola]], Bajaur.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/15/top5.htm 12 killed in drone attack on Damadola], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2008-05-15</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/01/alqaida.pakistan Al-Qaeda chief dies in missile air strike], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 2008-06-01</ref>
*'''June 14, 2008:''' US drones fired three missiles at a potential hideout of TTP leader Meshud, killing one person.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/6-15-2008/19301.htm</ref>
*'''July 28, 2008:''' [[Midhat Mursi]] and 5 other Al-Qaeda operatives killed in South Waziristan.<ref name=Reuters2009-06-18/>
*'''August 12, 2008:''' Nine killed in four strikes in the area near [[Angore Adda]] in South Waziristan during a meeting of militants.<ref>[http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=82757 Pakistan: Hỏa tiễn bắn trúng nơi họp của phiến quân, ít nhất 9 người chết] {{vi}}</ref>
*'''August 13, 2008:''' US drone strike on a compound run by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar killed Taliban commander Abdul Rehman, along with Islam Wazir, three Turkmen, and several Arab fighters. Up to 25 militants were killed in this strike.<ref>http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/08/crossborder_strike_t.php</ref>
*'''August 20, 2008:''' US drones fire two missiles that hit a compound in South Waziristan, killing 8 militants.<ref>http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5grLj6xRsGSHp7FJtyLelxa6i3omA</ref>
*'''August 30, 2008:''' Missile strike on Al-Qaeda training camp in South Waziristan kills two militants carrying Canadian passports.<ref name="Roggio, Bill 2009">Roggio, Bill, and Alexander Mayer, "A Look At US Airstrikes In Pakistan Through September 2009", ''[[Long War Journal]]'', October 1, 2009.</ref>
*'''August 31, 2008:''' US drones destroy a house in Tappi village in Miranshah, killing 6 people and injuring 8 including 1 woman and 1 child.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/9-1-2008/23919.htm</ref>
*'''September 4, 2008:''' US drones fired missiles at a house in Char Khel in North Waziristan killing 4 people.<ref>http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/09/report_us_airstrike.php</ref>
*'''September 5, 2008:''' US drones fire three missiles, destroying a house which was potentially hosting Arab foreign fighters, killing at least six.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/world/asia/06pstan.html?_r=1&fta=y | work=The New York Times | title=U.S. Missiles Killed at Least Six People on Afghanistan-Pakistan Border, Residents Say | date=September 6, 2008}}</ref>
*'''September 8, 2008:''' 23 killed in [[Daande Darpkhel airstrike]], near [[Miranshah]], North Waziristan.
*'''September 12, 2008:''' 12 killed in [[Miranshah airstrike]].
*'''September 17, 2008:''' US drone attack in Baghar Cheena region of South Waziristan kills 5 militants including Al Qaeda operative Abu Ubaydah al Tunisi.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSISL27126520080917 | work=Reuters | title=Pakistan helps U.S. set up missile strike: source | first=Simon | last=Cameron-Moore | date=September 17, 2008}}</ref>
*'''September 30, 2008:''' Six killed in a strike near [[Mir Ali, Pakistan|Mir Ali]], North Waziristan.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/3114374/Pakistan-US-drone-strike-kills-six-people.html Pakistan: US drone strike kills six people], [[The Daily Telegraph]], 2008-10-01</ref>
*'''October 3, 2008:''' Two drone attacks hours apart in Datta Khel region of North Waziristan kills 21 militants including 16 foreigners.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/10-4-2008/26211.htm</ref>
*'''October 9, 2008:''' US drone strike killed at least 6 militants including 3 Arabs in Tappi village near Miranshah, North Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4986NO20081009 | work=Reuters | title=U.S. missile attack kills at least 6 in Pakistan | date=October 9, 2008}}</ref>
*'''October 11, 2008:''' US drone strike at a militant compound in North Waziristan kills 5 people and wounds 2 others.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/10-12-2008/26731.htm</ref>
*'''October 16, 2008:''' Senior Al-Qaeda leader [[Khalid Habib]] killed in a strike near Taparghai, South Waziristan, along with five other Al Qaeda or Taliban members.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/world/asia/18pstan.html U.S. Strike Is Said to Kill Qaeda Figure in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2008-10-17</ref><ref name="LongWarJournal 2009">''LongWarJournal.org'', December 10, 2009.</ref>
*'''October 22, 2008:'''  4 killed in a village near [[Miranshah]] by missiles fired from suspected US drone.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E5DA133BF930A15753C1A96E9C8B63&sec=&spon= Strike on Village In Pakistan Kills 4; Drone Is Suspected], [[The New York Times]], 2008-10-23</ref>
*'''October 26, 2008:''' 20 killed in a strike in South Waziristan.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7692373.stm 'US strike' kills Taleban leader], [[BBC]], 2008-10-27</ref>
*'''October 31, 2008:''' Two missiles fired by US drones kills 7 in Wana, South Waziristan.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/10-31-2008/27916.htm</ref>
*'''October 31, 2008:''' 20 killed including Al-Qaeda operative [[Abu Akash]] and [[Mohammad Hasan Khalil al-Hakim]] (alias Abu Jihad al-Masri) after 4 missiles hit Waziristan.<ref name=Reuters2009-06-18/><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5059109.ece US airstrikes kill 20 in Pakistani villages], [[The Times]], 2008-11-01</ref>
*'''November 7, 2008:''' US drones fire four missiles, killing up to 14 militants in Kumsham, North Waziristan.<ref>http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jlbsctRKE5_0vBDyyTTr7nkLW0yg</ref>
*'''November 14, 2008:''' 12 killed in a strike near Miranshah.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5152912.ece US drone strike kills 12 in Pakistan], [[The Times]], 2008-11-14</ref>
*'''November 19, 2008:''' [[Abdullah Azam al-Saudi]] and 4 other militants are killed in [[Bannu]] district.<ref name=Reuters2009-06-18/>
*'''November 22, 2008:''' British Al-Qaeda operative [[Rashid Rauf]] and 4 others including [[Abu Zubair al-Masri]] killed in a strike in North Waziristan.<ref name=Reuters2009-06-18/><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/22/transatlantic-airline-rashid-rauf US kills alleged transatlantic airline plot leader, reports say], [[The Guardian]], 2008-11-22</ref>
*'''November 29, 2008:''' US drone strike on Miranshah, North Waziristan kills 3 people.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/29/pakistan.missile/index.html?iref=newssearch | work=CNN | title=Suspected U.S. missile kills 3 in Pakistan | date=November 29, 2008}}</ref>
*'''December 11, 2008:''' US drone strike in Azam Warzak, South Waziristan, kills 7 militants.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINISL23166720081211 | work=Reuters | title=UPDATE 1-Suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan kills 7 | date=December 11, 2008}}</ref>
*'''December 15, 2008:''' US drone strike in Tapi Tool region near Miram Shah, North Waziristan kills 2.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/12-15-2008/30752.htm</ref>
*'''December 22, 2008:''' At least 8 killed in South Waziristan by suspected US drone strike.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2008-12/2008-12-22-voa11.cfm?CFID=117382517&CFTOKEN=89264222&jsessionid=de30ab03891a3cff82d05d7f2b3e12685f55 At Least 8 Killed in Suspected US Drone Attack in Pakistan], [[Voice of America]], 2008-12-22</ref>

===2009===
====January to June====
[[Image:MQ-9 Afghanistan takeoff 1 Oct 07.JPG|350px|right|thumb|An [[MQ-9 Reaper]] taking off in [[Afghanistan]].]]
*'''January 1, 2009:''' 2 senior al-Qaeda leaders [[Usama al-Kini]] and [[Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan]] killed in a missile strike by U.S. drones.<ref name=Reuters2009-06-18/><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world/asia/09pstan.html 2 Qaeda Leaders Killed in U.S. Strike in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-01-08</ref>
*'''January 2, 2009:''' US drone strike in Ladha, South Waziristan kills 4 people.<ref>http://www.geo.tv/1-2-2009/31753.htm</ref>
*'''January 23, 2009:''' In the first attacks since [[Barack Obama]] became [[President of the United States|U.S. president]], at least 14 killed in Waziristan in 2 separate attacks by 5 missiles fired from drones.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7847423.stm Deadly missiles strike Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2009-01-23</ref>
*'''February 14, 2009:''' More than 30 killed when two missiles are launched by drones near town of Makeen in South Waziristan.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/world/asia/15pstan.html U.S. Airstrike Kills 25 in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-02-14</ref>
*'''February 16, 2009:''' Strike in [[Kurram Valley]] kills 30, reportedly at a Taliban training camp for fighters preparing to combat coalition forces in Afghanistan.<ref name="Roggio, Bill 2009"/><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/16/pakistan-us-missile-strike US missile strike kills 30 in Pakistan], [[The Guardian]], 2009-02-16</ref>
*'''March 1, 2009:''' Strike in Sararogha village in South Waziristan kills 7 people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7917604.stm Missiles 'kill seven' in Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2009-03-01</ref>
*'''March 7, 2009:''' Taliban militants shot down one of the two UAVs over a village in South Waziristan.<ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=91787&z=5 Phiến quân bắn rơi phi cơ không người lái của Mỹ] {{vi}}</ref>
*'''March 12, 2009:''' 24 killed in attack in [[Berju]] in [[Kurram Agency]].<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/nwfp/seven-killed-in-drone-attack-in-lower-kurram-agency--il 24 killed, 50 hurt in Central Kurram drone strikes ], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-03-13</ref>
*'''March 15, 2009''' 4 killed in [[Jani Khel]] in [[Bannu district]] in [[North-West Frontier Province]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/world/asia/17drone.html Missile Strike Kills 4 in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-03-16</ref>
*'''March 25, 2009:''' 7 killed in attacks on 2 vehicles by two missiles in [[Makin]] area of South Waziristan at 6:30pm.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7963865.stm  Drone attack reported in Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2009-03-26</ref>
*'''March 26, 2009:''' 4 killed in [[Essokhel]] area in [[North Waziristan]].<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Suspected-US-missile-strike-kills-four-in-Pakistan-Officials/articleshow/4317107.cms?TOI_latestnews Suspected US missile strike kills four in Pakistan: Officials], [[The Times of India]], 2009-03-26</ref>
*'''April 1, 2009:''' 14 killed in [[Orakzai Agency]] tribal area.<ref name=bbc1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7975871.stm Many killed in 'US drone attack'], [[BBC]], 2009-04-01</ref><ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=92899&z=5 Pakistan: Hoả tiễn nghi của Hoa kỳ sát hại 12 phiến quân Taliban] {{vi}}</ref>
*'''April 4, 2009:''' 13 killed in North Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/usTopNews/idUKTRE53309720090404 | work=Reuters | title=U.S. missile kills 13 in Pakistan | date=April 4, 2009}}</ref>
*'''April 8, 2009:'''  4 killed in attack on a vehicle in Gangi Khel in South Waziristan.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/nwfp/two-killed-in-suspected-drone-attack-in-south-waziristan--il DAWN.COM | NWFP | Four dead in suspected drone attack in South Waziristan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''April 19, 2009:''' At least 3 killed and 5 injured in an attack in South Waziristan<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8006646.stm 'US strike' on Pakistan militants], [[BBC]], 2009-04-19</ref>
*'''April 29, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Kanni Garam]] village in South Waziristan kills 6 people.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/11-six-dead-in-suspected-us-drone-attack--07 Six dead in suspected US drone attack], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-04-29</ref>
*'''May 9, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Sararogha]] in South Waziristan kills 6 people.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/suspected+us+drone+strike+kills+six+-rs 15 dead in Waziristan drone attack, ambush][[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-05-10</ref>
*'''May 12, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Sra Khawra]] village in South Waziristan kills 8 people.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8045106.stm | work=BBC News | title=Drone kills eight in Pakistan | date=May 12, 2009 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref>
*'''May 16, 2009:''' US drone strike in village of [[Sarkai Naki]] in North Waziristan kills 25 people.<ref name=NYT0516>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/world/asia/17pstan.html 25 Militants Are Killed in Attack in Pakistan], ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2009-05-17</ref>
*'''June 14, 2009:''' US drone strike on a vehicle in South Waziristan kills 5 people.<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE55D07620090614 FACTBOX: U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan], [[Reuters]], 2009-06-14</ref>
*'''June 18, 2009:''' Two US drone strikes in [[Shahalam]] village in South Waziristan kills atleast 13 people.<ref>http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/200961875855867303.html</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8106686.stm | work=BBC News | title=Air raid 'kills nine' in Pakistan | date=June 18, 2009}}</ref>
*'''June 23, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Neej Narai]] in South Waziristan kills at least 8 people.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-suspected-us-drone-strikes-swaziristan-qs-03 Suspected US missile strike kills six in South Waziristan], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-06-23</ref><ref name=PTV1>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=98870&sectionid=351020401 [[Press TV]] – US drone strikes kill 50 in Pakistan]</ref>
*'''June 23, 2009:''' [[23 June 2009 Makeen airstrike|Makeen airstrike]] kills at least 80 but misses [[Baitullah Mehsud]] in the town of [[Makeen]],  many of which were attending the funerals of people killed in the air strikes earlier in the day.<ref>[http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/us-drone-attack-claims-80-lives-in-pakistan Japan Today - U.S. drone attack claims 80 lives in Pakistan]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/25/ap/asia/main5111942.shtml CBS News - US Drone Attack Claims 80 Lives In Pakistan]</ref><ref>[http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/82552/u-s-drone-attack-on-pakistan-condemned.html Turkish Weekly - US Drone Attack on Pakistan Condemned]</ref>

====July to December====
*'''July 3, 2009:''' US Drone kills 17 people and injures a further 27.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=99667&sectionid=351020401 Press TV - US drone attacks kill 13 in Pakistan]</ref>
*'''July 7, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Zangarha]] in South Waziristan kills at least 12 people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8137640.stm BBC - 'US strike' on Pakistan militants]</ref>
*'''July 8, 2009:''' US drone strike on a hideout in [[Karwan Manza]] area and on a vehicle convoy in South Waziristan kills at least 50 people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8139739.stm BBC - Drones 'kill dozens' in Pakistan]</ref>
*'''July 10, 2009:''' US drones take out a Taliban communication center killing between 5-8 militants in Painda Khel, South Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE56A0NE20090711 | work=Reuters | title=FACTBOX - U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan | date=July 11, 2009}}</ref>
*'''July 17, 2009:''' US drone strike on a house in North Waziristan kills 4 people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8156039.stm BBC - Four die in Pakistan 'drone raid']</ref>
*'''August 5, 2009:''' US drone strike in South Waziristan killed 12, including [[Baitullah Mehsud]], his wife, and his wife's parents.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm|title=Taliban confirm commander's death|date=2009-08-25|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8282174.stm|title=Taliban film shows leader is dead|date=2009-09-30|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-11-02}}</ref> The kill was confirmed after weeks of uncertainty over their fate.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8184734.stm 'Drone attack' kills Taliban wife]</ref><ref>Mahsud, Ishtiaq, and Munir Ahmad, ([[Associated Press]]) "[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090807/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan Aide says Pakistani Taliban leader Mehsud is dead]", ''[[Yahoo news]]'', August 7, 2009.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8192893.stm|title= Pakistan to seek Mehsud DNA proof|date=2009-08-10|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref><ref name="death_1">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8220762.stm|title=Taliban admit commander's death|date=2009-08-25|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-08-25}}</ref><ref>Roggio, Bill, "Tahir Yuldashev Confirmed Killed In US Strike In South Waziristan", ''Long War Journal'', October 4, 2009; Kitfield, James, "'Wanted: Dead'", ''[[National Journal]]'', January 9, 2010.</ref>
*'''August 11, 2009:''' US drone strike in [[Ladda]] village, South Waziristan, kills 10.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8194731.stm|title=Pakistan drone attack 'kills 10'|date=2009-08-11|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-08-11}}</ref>
*'''August 21, 2009:''' US drone strike on the village of Darpa Kheil, North Waziristan, reportedly targeting [[Sirajuddin Haqqani]] kills at least 21 people.<ref>{{Cite news
  | title = U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, at least 3 dead | publisher = Reuters| date = 2009-08-20| url = http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57J6WM20090820| accessdate = 2009-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8213354.stm|title= Deadly missile strike in Pakistan|date=2009-08-21|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2009-08-22}}</ref><ref>Afzal, Hussain, "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/08/ap_pakistan_strike_082109/ Toll from Pakistan missile strike rises to 21]", ''[[Military Times]]'' ([[Associated Press]]), August 22, 2009.</ref>
*'''August 27, 2009:''' US drone missile strike on the Tapar Ghai area in the Kanigram (Kanigoram) district in South Waziristan kills at 8 people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8224289.stm 'Militants die in drone attack']</ref><ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-42024420090827 U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan]</ref>  One of the dead was reportedly [[Tohir Yo‘ldosh]] (Tahir Yuldash), leader of the [[Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan]].<ref>Ahmad, Munir (Associated Press), "Pakistan: US Missile Said To Kill A Top Militant", ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'', October 2, 2009.</ref><ref>Roggio, Bill, "Tahir Yuldashev Confirmed Killed In US Strike In South Waziristan", ''Long War Journal'', October 4, 2009.</ref>
*'''September 8, 2009''': US drone fired missiles kill 10 in North Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/09/20099815473888170.html|title= Deaths in Pakistan drone attack |date=2009-09-08|publisher=Al Jazeera English|accessdate=2009-09-08}}</ref>  The attack may have killed al Qaeda leaders [[Ilyas Kashmiri (militant)|Ilyas Kashmiri]] and Mustafa al Jaziri as well as three Punjabi militants and two or three local Taliban fighters.<ref>Roggio, Bill, "Senior Al Qaeda Leaders Reported Killed In North Waziristan Strike", ''Long War Journal'', Sep 8, 2009.</ref>
*'''September 14, 2009''':  US drone fired missile kills four people in a car 1.5 miles from Mir Ali in North Waziristan.<ref>Dawar, Rasool ([[Associated Press]]), "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_pakistan_missile_attack_091409/ 4 killed in missile attack in Pakistan]", ''[[Military Times]]'', Sep 14, 2009.</ref>
*'''September 24, 2009''':  US drone fired missile kills up to 12 people in the village of Dande Darpa Khel near Mir Ali.<ref>[[Associated Press]], "Reported U.S. Missile Strike Leaves Four Dead In Pakistan", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', September 25, 2009; Dawar, Rasool, ([[Associated Press]]), "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/09/ap_pakistan_strike_092509/ Suspected U.S. UAV strike kills 12 in Pakistan]", ''[[Military Times]]'', September 25, 2009.</ref>
*'''September 29, 2009''':  Two missile attacks take place.  In the first, a drone attack reportedly killed six Taliban, including two Uzbek fighters and Taliban commander Irfan Mehsud, in a compound in Sararogha village, South Waziristan.  In the second, a missile killed seven insurgents in a house in Dandey Darpakhel village, North Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Suspected U.S. drone attack kills five in Pakistan |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/29/AR2009092900694.html |publisher=Washington Post |agency=Reuters |date=September 29, 2009 |accessdate=September 29, 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]], "Pakistan: Missile Attacks Reportedly Kill 13 Insurgents", ''[[New York Times]]'', Sep 30, 2009.</ref>
*'''September 30, 2009''': US drones fire missiles at a Taliban compound and vehicle killing 8 in Novak, North Waziristan.<ref>http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/09/2009930113649164906.html</ref>
*'''October 15, 2009''': US drone missile killed at least four people in North Waziristan.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8308157.stm | work=BBC News | title='US drone' kills four in Pakistan | date=October 15, 2009 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref>
*'''October 21, 2009''':  Alleged US drone missile killed two or three alleged militants in Spalaga, North Waziristan in territory controlled by [[Hafiz Gul Bahadur]].<ref>Khan, Riaz (Associated Press), "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_pakistan_missile_strike_102109/ Alleged U.S. missile kills 3 in Pakistan]", ''[[Military Times]]'', October 21, 2009.</ref><ref>Associated Press, "U.S. missile strike complicates Pakistan battle", ''[[Japan Times]]'', October 23, 2009.</ref>  One of those killed was reportedly Abu Ayyub al-Masri (not the same as [[Abu Ayyub al-Masri]], the [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq]] leader), an explosives expert for Al Qaeda and a "Tier 1" target of US counterterrorism operations.<ref>Hodge, Amanda, "[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26246407-2703,00.html US drone takes out al-Qa'ida kingpin]", ''[[The Australian]]'', October 23, 2009.</ref>
*'''October 24, 2009''':  Alleged US drone strike killed 27, in Damadolla , inside Bajaur tribal agency.<ref>[http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Islamabad/24-Oct-2009/Death-toll-rises-to-27-in-Bajaur-drone-attack Death toll rises to 27 in Bajaur drone attack]</ref><ref>[http://www.aaj.tv/news/National/150418_detail.html Drone attack in Damadola, 18 killed]</ref>  The 27 victims were reportedly a mix of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives engaged in a planning and strategy meeting.  The dead apparently included 11 "foreigners".  One of those reported killed was [[Faqir Mohammed]]'s nephew, Zahid and another was Mohammed's unnamed son-in-law.  The meeting was apparently being held to decide on whether to reinforce South Wazaristan against Pakistani forces, which Mohammed advocates, or exploit recent successes in the Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, which Al Qaeda wishes to do.<ref>Roggio, Bill, "Bajaur Strike Hit Taliban, Al Qaeda Strategy Meeting", ''Long War Journal'', October 24, 2009.</ref>
*'''November 5, 2009''': 2 killed in [[Miranshah]] town in [[North Waziristan]].<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-11-05-voa5.cfm Suspected US Drone Attack Kills 2 in Pakistan]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>
*'''November 18, 2009''': 4 killed and 5 injured in Shanakhora village of North Waziristan, 12 miles south of [[Miranshah]].<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gTRQcdNeByfeRiEv2X5yL-HERq4w US missile hits militants in Pakistan tribal area: officials]</ref><ref>''Washington Post'', "Drone Attack Kills 4 In Pakistan", November 19, 2009, p. 10.</ref>
*'''November 20, 2009''': 8 killed in the Machikhel area near the town of Mir Ali.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8369795.stm | work=BBC News | title=Pakistan drone attack kills eight | date=November 20, 2009 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref>
*'''December 8, 2009''': 3 killed in a car near [[Miranshah]] in [[North Waziristan]], reportedly including 2 Al Qaeda members.<ref name="LongWarJournal 2009"/><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8400800.stm  US drone attack kills three 'militants' in Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2009-12-08</ref>  Senior Al qaeda planner [[Saleh al-Somali]], from Somalia, is believed killed in this strike.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/International/Terrorism/al-qaeda-operations-planner-saleh-al-somali-believed/story?id=9314585 Al Qaeda Operations Planner Saleh Al-Somali Believed Dead in Drone Strike], [[ABC News]], 2009-12-11</ref>
*'''December 9, 2009''':  Six killed in Tanga, [[Ladha]], South Waziristan, reportedly consisting of four Al Qaeda and two Taliban members.<ref name="LongWarJournal 2009"/>
*'''December 17, 2009''': 17 killed in 2 separate attacks in [[North Waziristan]] in an area controlled by Hafiz Gul Bahadur.  In the first attack, two missiles hit a car near Dosali, killing two.  In the second attack, 10 missiles fired by five drones hit two compounds in Ambarshaga, killing 15 people.  Unnamed sources stated that seven of the dead were "foreigners."<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8417756.stm Twelve killed' in US drone strikes in Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2009-12-17</ref><ref>Mahsud, Shtiaq, and Rasool Dawar (Associated Press), "[http://militarytimes.com/news/2009/12/ap_pakistan_strike_121709/ Pakistan: U.S. strike kills 17 in Waziristan]", ''[[Military Times]]'', December 17, 2009.</ref>
*'''December 18, 2009''': 3 killed in an attack in Dattakhel region in [[North Waziristan]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8420701.stm  Another Pakistan drone strike 'kills three militants'], [[BBC]], 2009-12-18</ref>
*'''December 26, 2009''': 13 killed in an attack in Saidgai village in [[North Waziristan]]<ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-12/27/content_12711502.htm U.S. drone attack kills 13 in NW Pakistan]</ref>
*'''December 30, 2009''':  A suicide bomber killed at least six CIA officers and seriously injured six others at [[Camp Chapman attack|Forward Operating Base Chapman]] in Afghanistan, which is used by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] to coordinate drone attacks in Pakistan.  The [[Haqqani network]] claimed responsibility.<ref name="LongWarJournal">''LongWarJournal''.</ref>
*'''December 31, 2009''': Four killed in an attack in Machikhel village in [[North Waziristan]].  According to ''[[The Frontier Post]]'', senior Taliban leader and strong Haqqani ally Haji Omar Khan, brother of [[Arif Khan]], was killed in the strike along with the son of local tribal leader Karim Khan.<ref name="LongWarJournal"/><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/31/pakistan.drone.strike/ Suspected drone attack kills 3 in Pakistan], [[CNN]], 2009-12-31</ref>
In January 2010, al Qaeda in Pakistan announced that [[Lashkar al-Zil]] leader [[Abdullah Said al Libi]] was killed in a drone missile strike.  Neither al Qaeda nor the US has revealed the date of the attack which killed Libi, but it appears to have taken place in December 2009.<ref>Roggio, Bill, ''LongWarJournal'', January 7, 2010.</ref>

===2010===
====January to March====
[[Image:Twuav 13 02.jpeg|300px|right|thumb|[[MQ-1L Predator]] UAV armed with [[AGM-114 Hellfire]] missile]]
*'''January 1, 2010''': Missile strike on a vehicle near Ghundikala village in North Waziristan kills 3.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/07-drone-strike-kills-three-militants-in-n-waziristan-ha-04 At least six killed in two drone attacks in North Waziristan], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-01-01</ref><ref name="TheNewsJan2010">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=221847|title=US drones killed 123 civilians, three al-Qaeda men in January|date=2010-02-01|publisher=The News}}</ref>
*'''January 3, 2010''': 5 people including 3 Arabs killed in an attack on Mosakki village in North Waziristan.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/06-us-drone-attack-kills-two-in-north-waziristan-rs-04 US drone attack kills five in North Waziristan]</ref>
*'''January 6, 2010''': 2 separate missile strikes one hour apart kill approximately 35 people in Sanzalai village, North Waziristan.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/world/asia/07drones.html Drone Strikes Reported in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2010-01-06</ref><ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=106513&z=5 Máy bay không người lái hạ sát 12 người Pakistan] {{vi}}</ref>
*'''January 8, 2010''': Missile strike in Tappi village in North Waziristan killed 5 people. It is alleged that all the [[militant]]s killed were local and were attached to Taliban Commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100108/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestnorthwestmissile US missile strike 'kills five' in NW Pakistan], [[Agence France-Presse]], 2010-01-08</ref>
*'''January 9, 2010''':  4 killed and three injured when 2 missiles are fired on a compound in village Ismail Khan in North Waziristan, territory of the Haqqani network.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/09/pakistan.drone.strike/ 4 killed in suspected drone strike in Pakistan], [[CNN]], 2010-01-09; [[Associated Press]], "Pakistani Officials: Suspected U.S. Missiles Kill 4", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', January 9, 2010.</ref>  Mahmoud Mahdi Zeidan, bodyguard for al Qaeda leader [[Sayeed al-Masri]], was reported killed in either the January 8 or 9 airstrike.<ref>[[Associated Press]], "Drone Attack Kills Al Qaeda Guard", ''[[Washington Times]]'', January 14, 2010, p. 7.</ref>  [[Jamal Saeed Abdul Rahim]] who was allegedly involved in hijacking of [[Pan Am Flight 73]] in 1986 was also reported killed in this strike.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-pakistan-terrorist16-2010jan16,0,672698.story U.S. airstrike reportedly kills terrorist], [[The Los Angeles Times]], 2010-01-16</ref>
*'''January 13, 2010''': Missile strike in Pasalkot village in a compound formerly used as a religious school in North Waziristan killed 15 people among them 3 militant commanders.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-suspected-drone-strikes-in-shaktoai-south-waziristan-casualties-feared-hh-05 US drone targets Hakimullah Mehsud], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-01-15</ref> The apparent target of the strike was, [[Hakimullah Mehsud]], who reportedly left the compound before the attack occurred.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100202/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>
*'''January 15, 2010''': Missile strike in Zannini village near Mir Ali in North Waziristan kills up to 15 people, probably including Abdul Basit Usman, an al-Qaeda terrorist.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref name=AFP20100115>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100115/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunresttaliban Pakistani Taliban release audio of leader denying his death], [[Agence France-Presse]], 2010-01-15</ref>
*'''January 15, 2010''': Second missile strike of the day kills 6 in Bichi village in North Waziristan.<ref name=AFP20100115/>
*'''January 17, 2010''': Missile strike in Shaktoi area of South Waziristan kills at least 20 people.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100117/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan Pakistani officials: Suspected US drone kills 20], [[Associated Press]], 2010-01-17</ref> The leader of the Pakistani Taliban, [[Hakimullah Mehsud]] sustained injuries in this attack. It was initially believed he died but it was later learned that he survived.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-taliban-confirm-hakeemullahs-death-ss-01 DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Hakimullah dead, say US channels, newspapers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''January 19, 2010''': Two missiles fired at a compound and vehicle in Booya village of Datakhel sub-division, 35&nbsp;km west of [[Miranshah]], in North Waziristan kills 9 people.<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://www.ptinews.com/news/475994_Six-killed-in-US-drone-attack-in-North-Waziristan Six killed in US drone attack in North Waziristan]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}, [[Press Trust of India]], 2010-01-19; [[Associated Press]], "Pakistan: Suspected Drone Strike Kills 5", ''[[New York Times]]'', January 20, 2010.</ref>
*'''January 29, 2010''': 15 killed when drones fire 3 missiles on a compound belonging to Haqqani network in Muhammad Khel town in [[North Waziristan]].<ref name="TheNewsJan2010" /><ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/16-five-killed-in-us-drone-strike-hs-09 Five killed in US drone strike], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-01-30</ref><ref>U.S. Missiles Kill 9 Taliban in Pakistan,  Saturday, January 30, 2010, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584363,00.html?test=latestnews</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/world/asia/31pstan.html Missile Strikes Kill 15 in Pakistani Tribal Region, Officials Say], [[The New York Times]], 2010-01-30</ref>
*'''February 2, 2010''': Up to 8 US drones fired missiles at 4 different villages of North Waziristan killing at least 29 people.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/02/pakistan.drone.strike/ Sources: Drone strikes kill 29 in Pakistan]</ref><ref>Shah, Pir Zubair, "U.S. Drones Said To Strike Along Border In Pakistan", ''[[New York Times]]'', February 3, 2010.</ref>
*'''February 14, 2010''': 5 killed in a strike near Mir Ali in North Waziristan.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100214/ts_nm/us_pakistan_violence U.S. drone kills five in northwest Pakistan]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}, [[Reuters]], 2010-02-14</ref>
*'''February 15, 2010''': Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, leader of the Turkistani Islamic Party, is killed by a drone missile strike in North Waziristan.<ref>[[Reuters]], "Missile Strike Killed Militant, Officials Say", ''[[Washington Post]]'', March 2, 2010, p. 7.</ref>
*'''February 17, 2010''':  Three [[militant]]s killed by a missile strike near Tapi, Miramshah, [[North Waziristan]].  One of those killed was reportedly [[Sheikh Mansoor]], a commander in the [[Lashkar al Zil]].<ref name="Roggio, Bill 2010">Roggio, Bill, "Senior Al Qaeda Military Commander Killed In Predator Strike", ''LongWarJournal'', February 20, 2010, referencing articles in the ''[[GEO News]]'' and ''[[Dawn News]]''.</ref>
*'''February 18, 2010''': 4 killed in a strike in Northwest Waziristan including Mohammed Haqqani, the brother of Afghan Taliban commander [[Sirajuddin Haqqani|Siraj]] who leads the [[Haqqani network]].<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/world/asia/20pstan.html?hp | work=The New York Times | title=Missile Kills Militant's Brother in Pakistan | date=February 20, 2010 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref><ref name="abcnews.go.com">[http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/haqqani-brother-killed-us-drone-attack-pakistan/story?id=9884855 Haqqani Brother Killed in U.S. Drone Attack in Pakistan - ABC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>  The missiles hit a vehicle belonging to Siraj that Mohammed was riding in, but Siraj was not in the vehicle at the time.<ref>Shah, Pir Zubair, "Missile Kills Militant's Brother In Pakistan", ''New York Times'', February 20, 2010, p. 6.</ref>  Mohammed and Siraj were reportedly attending the funeral of Sheikh Mansoor, who had been killed by a drone strike the day before.<ref name="Roggio, Bill 2010"/><ref name="nytimes.com"/><ref name="abcnews.go.com"/>
*'''February 24, 2010''': Missiles fired by a US drone killed at least 13 militants at a compound and at a vehicle in the Dargah Mandi area of North Waziristan. Among the dead include Bahadar Mansoor, head of Badar Mansoor group, and Rana Afzal, the man behind the [[October 2009 Lahore attacks|FIA HQ bombing in Lahore]]. Mohammed Qari Zafar, the head of [[Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]] and the person responsible for the [[Karachi consulate attacks|2002 and 2006 bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi]] was thought to be killed in this Drone strike but it was later proved that he survived the attack.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8533777.stm  Drone attack 'kills four' in north-west Pakistan], [[BBC]], 2010-02-24</ref><ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/world/asia/25pstan.html Drone Attack Reported in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2010-02-24</ref><ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100225/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan Officials: Taliban leader killed by missile strike], [[Associated Press]], 2010-02-25</ref><ref>[http://www.zeenews.com/news607089.html 3 top Taliban militants among nine killed in drone attack], Zee News, 2010-02-24</ref> He died on June 14, 2010 when he accidentally touched some explosives which set them off killing him in the ensuing explosion in a guesthouse he was staying in North Waziristan.<ref>[http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/14/4507145-pakistani-wanted-by-us-is-killed-by-explosives World Blog - Pakistani wanted by U.S. is killed by explosives<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''March 8, 2010''': Three missiles fired by US drone aircraft killed five militants and wounded three in Miranshah.<ref>[http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hq3Juf24xZy5MMioCYxq3Pzq8Xpw AFP: US drone strike kills five in NW Pakistan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is alleged that Hussein al-Yemeni (also called Sadam Hussein Al Hussami), an Al Qaeda terrorist who planned the [[Camp Chapman attack]] died in this strike.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8573652.stm | work=BBC News | title=Key al-Qaeda man 'died in strike' | date=March 18, 2010 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref>
*'''March 10, 2010''': Missiles fired from drones struck a compound and three vehicles in the village of Mizar Madakhel in North Waziristan.  The attack killed at least 12 and as many as 21 militants.  Five drones reportedly attacked in two waves.  First, four missiles struck and demolished the compound.  After local militants cordoned off the area and began recovering bodies, a second volley of missiles struck.  Hafiz Gul Bahadar, a local Taliban leader and chief of the North Waziristan Shura, may have been killed in the strike.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8561357.stm | work=BBC News | title=Pakistan drone raid 'kills 12' | date=March 11, 2010 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>Roggio, Bill, "Top North Waziristan Taliban Leader Bahadar Rumored Killed In US Strike", ''[[Public Multimedia|LongWarJournal]]'', March 11, 2010.</ref>
*'''March 16, 2010''': Eight to ten militants were killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan's Datakhel area.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-nwaziristan-drone-strike-qs-08 DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Drone attack in North Waziristan kills 10 militants<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=109957&z=5 Hỏa tiễn tình nghi của Hoa Kỳ hạ 9 phiến quân ở Pakistan] {{vi}}</ref>  The militants were reportedly al Qaeda fighters, mainly Afghan, but included two officials from Syria and Egypt.<ref>Yousafzai, Sami, and Ron Moreau, "Inside Al Qaeda", ''[[Newsweek]]'', 4 September 2010.</ref>
*'''March 17, 2010''': Two US Drone strikes killed 9 militants. In the first attack, the drones fired four missiles at a vehicle and a militant hide-out in Miranshah, killing six militants. About 50 minutes later, drones fired 3 missiles at a vehicle in Madakhel, killing 3 militants.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100317/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>
*'''March 21, 2010''': US drone fires two missiles in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan killing at least eight people and injuring several others.<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=121372&sectionid=351020401 In Pakistan, death toll from US drone attack hits 8<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''March 23, 2010''': US drones fired two missiles on a militant vehicle parked outside a compound in the suburbs of Miranshah in North Waziristan. At least six militants were killed and three others were wounded.<ref>http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100323/world/pakistan_unrest_us_missile</ref>
*'''March 27, 2010''': Drone strike in Mir Ali in North Waziristan kills 4  militants.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/12-us+missiles+kill+four+in+north+waziristan--bi-04 US missiles kill four in North Waziristan], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-03-28</ref>
*'''March 30, 2010''': US drone fired three missiles, destroying a compound owned by Zamir Khan, a local tribesman, and used by militants in the city of Tapi in North Waziristan killing six militants.<ref>[http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/100330/world/pakistan_unrest_us_missile]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>

====April to June====
*'''April 12, 2010''': 2 missiles fired  by a US drone kill 5 in North Waziristan.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/16-us+drone+strike+kills+three+militants+in+north+waziristan-hs-04 US drone attack kills five militants in North Waziristan]</ref>
*'''April 14, 2010''': US drone strike targeting a vehicle killed up to 4 people and injuring 4 others in Anbarshaga area of North Waziristan. All of the dead and injured were Arab militants.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8620895.stm | work=BBC News | title=Drones strike Pakistan militants | date=April 14, 2010 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>Roggio, Bill, ''Long War Journal'', "US Strikes Kill 6 In North Waziristan", April 16, 2010.</ref>
*'''April 16, 2010''': US drones fired at least 7 missiles which hit two vehicles and a house in the Toolkhel area near Miramshah in North Waziristan killing 6 people and injuring 5 others.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/03-drone-strike-near-miramshah-in-north-waziristan-ss-05 DAWN.COM | Pakistan | Two drone strikes take place in North Waziristan<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''April 24, 2010''': US drones kill 7 militants in [[North Waziristan]] in the village of Marsi Khel near Miramshah.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/24/AR2010042401280.html; Roggio, Bill, "US Airstrike Kills 7 Taliban In North Waziristan", ''Long War Journal'', April 24, 2010.]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref>
*'''April 26, 2010''':  Three missiles from drones strike a compound in the Khushali Toorkhel area, about 25&nbsp;km east of [[Miranshah]], North Waziristan, killing four or five.  A Pakistani security official stated that those killed were militant followers of local rebel commander Haleem Khan.  The official added that Khan has ties to regional Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur.<ref>[[Agence France-Presse]]-[[Jiji Press]], "Drone strike kills four in Pakistan", ''[[Japan Times]]'', April 27, 2010, p. 4.</ref><ref>''[[Washington Post]]'', "U.S. Drone Strike Kills Five In Pakistan", April 26, 2010.</ref>
*'''May 3, 2010''': 4 [[militant]]s are killed in a drone strike in [[North Waziristan]] <ref>[http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/05/us_airstrike_kills_4_1.php US airstrike kills 4 'militants' in North Waziristan - The Long War Journal<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''May 9, 2010''': 10 [[militant]]s are killed in a drone strike in [[North Waziristan]] <ref name="bbc05092010">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8670584.stm|title=US drone' missile strike hits north-west Pakistan |date=May 9, 2010|publisher=BBC|accessdate=9 May 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-05-09-00-53-06 News from The Associated Press<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''May 11, 2010''': At least 24 [[militant]]s are killed in two separate US drone strikes in which the US fired up to 18 missiles. The first strike occurred when missiles struck cars, homes and tents in the Doga area of North Waziristan killing up to 14 militants. Hours later another pair of missiles hit a compound in the Gorwek area of North Waziristan killing another 10 suspected [[insurgent]]s, including the brother of a reputed Taliban commander, Maulvi Kalam.<ref name="bbc05112010">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8674104.stm|title= US drone 'kills 10 Pakistan militants'|date=May 11, 2010|publisher=BBC|accessdate=11 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="dawn05112010">{{Cite news|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-us-drone-attack-kills-six-in-north-waziristan-zj-02|title=US missiles kill at least 24 in North Waziristan|date=May 11, 2010|publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)]]|accessdate=11 May 2010}}</ref>
*'''May 15, 2010''': At least 15 killed in [[Khyber Agency]] in the first such strike in this area.<ref name="wp05152010">{{Cite news|title=Officials: US missiles kill 5 in NW Pakistan|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/15/AR2010051501012.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 15, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref><ref name="TNI05162010">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=28874|title=US drone strikes kill 15 in Khyber|date=May 16, 2010|publisher=[[The News International]]|accessdate=16 May 2010}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
*'''May 21, 2010''': US drones fired two missiles on a compound used by Afghan warlord [[Hafiz Gul Bahadur]] and killed 10 people in Mohammad Khel, North Waziristan. [[Saeed al-Masri]], the current 3rd in command of [[Al-Qaeda]] was killed in this strike along with his wife and 3 children.<ref name="nyt20100601">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/asia/01qaeda.html|title=Strike Said to Kill a Top Al Qaeda Leader|last=Schmitt|first=Eric|date=June 1, 2010|publisher=The New York Times|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="Reuters20100601">{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65007720100601|title=U.S. believes it killed al Qaeda No. 3|last=Haider|first=Zeeshan|date=June 1, 2010|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=1 June 2010}}</ref>  Other dead in this strike include two foreign militants, one of whom was reportedly Filipino.  Five women and two children were reported injured.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100521/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestusmissile] [[Associated Press]], "Officials:  U.S. missile strike leaves 10 dead in Pakistan", ''[[Arizona Republic]]'', May 23, 2010, p. A17.</ref>
*'''May 28, 2010''': US drone strike killed 11 militants and wounded three others in the Nazai Narai area of South Waziristan.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100528/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref>
*'''June 10, 2010''': US drone strike killed 3 people in [[North Waziristan]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/10/drone-strike-kills-3-in-pakistan/ | work=CNN | title=Drone strike kills 3 in Pakistan}}</ref>
*'''June 11, 2010''': US drones fired 6 missiles on a housing compound near [[Miranshah|Miran Shah]] at the Afghan-Pakistan border, killing 15 alleged militants.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100611/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan Officials: US missiles kill 15 in NW Pakistan - Yahoo! News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*'''June 19, 2010''': US drone fired a missile striking a house in Haider Khel village near North Waziristan's Mir Ali town killing 16 militants.<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-06/19/c_13357992.htm</ref>  Al Qaeda leader Abu Ahmed Tarkash was among the dead.<ref name="dawn20100620">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-suspected-us-missile-kills-three-in-north-waziristan-zj-06|title=Al Qaeda man among 16 killed in drone attack|date=20 June 2010|publisher=[[Dawn (newspaper)]]|accessdate=20 June 2010}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=114763&z=5 Hỏa tiễn Mỹ hạ 12 phiến quân ở Pakistan] {{vi}}</ref>
*'''June 26, 2010''':A US missile strike killed 7 militants in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border. The missile, fired by an unmanned drone, destroyed a house near [[Mir_Ali,_Pakistan|Mir Ali]] in [[North Waziristan]]. One of the dead men was a foreigner.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia_pacific/10423780.stm 'US drone' kills two in Pakistan border area]</ref>
*'''June 27, 2010''': A drone strike in [[North Waziristan]] killed 5 militants.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63L3G420100426 | work=Reuters | title=U.S. drone strike kills five in Pakistan | date=April 26, 2010}}</ref>
*'''June 29, 2010''': US drone fired two missiles hitting a house near in [[Wana,_Pakistan|Wana]], South [[Waziristan]] killing at least 8 [[militant]]s including Hamza al-Jufi an Egyptian militant belonging to Al Qaeda.<ref name="nyt20100629">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/world/asia/30pstan.html|title=Qaeda Figure Is Reported Killed in Pakistan|last=Shah|first=Pir Zubair|date=29 June 2010|publisher=[[The New York Times]]|accessdate=29 June 2010}}</ref><ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100629/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref>

====July to Current====
*'''July 15, 2010''': A drone strike in [[North Waziristan]] killed 14 suspected militants in a region under the control of Hafiz Gul Bahadar.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/15/u-s-drone-strike-kills-7/ | work=CNN | title=Security Brief: U.S. drone strike kills 7}}</ref><ref>[http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=116084&z=5 Hỏa tiễn Mỹ hạ sát 10 phiến quân ở Pakistan] {{vi}}</ref><ref>Roggio, Bill, "US Predator Strike Kills 10 In North Waziristan", ''LongWarJournal'', July 15, 2010.</ref>
*'''July 24, 2010''': US drones fired two missiles at a militant compound in Nazai Narai area of South Waziristan killing 16 militants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100724/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref>
*'''July 25, 2010''': US drones fired two missiles and hit a double-cabin pickup carrying militants in Shaktoi village in South Waziristan. Taliban sources said 14 militants were killed and two others were injured in the attack. The militants belonged to the Hakimullah Mehsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).<ref name="thenews.com.pk">http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=30299</ref>
*'''July 25, 2010''': US drones launched their second strike of the day when two missiles hit a house where some militants were having dinner in Landikhel village of Srarogha Tehsil in South Waziristan. Four militants that belonged to TTP were killed and five others sustained injuries.<ref name="thenews.com.pk"/>
*'''July 25, 2010''': US drones launched their unprecedented third strike on the same day when they fired two missiles at a house in Taipi village near Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan, killing 7 suspected militants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100725/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref>
*'''August 14, 2010''': US drone fired three missiles at a compound in Mir Ali, [[North Waziristan]], killing at least 13 militants including Taliban commander, Amir Moaviya.<ref>http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/13-Taliban-militants-killed-in-US-drone-strike-in-Pakistan/articleshow/6314628.cms</ref><ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5i_SSAToBCvJ81UV3JUJy1yn9am5g</ref>
*'''August 21, 2010''': A US drone strike near Miran Shah, [[North Waziristan]], kills 6 militants.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.nypost.com/p/news/international/drone_strike_kills_in_pakistan_MBD605duEtAo58bo23DynK | work=New York Post | title=Drone strike kills 6 in Pakistan | date=August 21, 2010}}</ref>
*'''August 23, 2010''': Missiles fired from US drones in [[North Waziristan]] kill 13 militants and seven civilians. Four women and three children are among the dead.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE67M0M6 | work=Reuters | title=US Drone strike kills 20 people in Pakistan | date=August 23, 2010}}</ref>
*'''August 27, 2010''': Missiles fired from US drones in the [[Kurram Agency]] hit 2 vehicle killing 5 suspected militants, the first such reported drone strike in the [[Kurram Agency]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE67R00E | work=Reuters | title=Five killed in U.S. strike in Pakistan-officials | date=August 28, 2010}}</ref>
*'''September 3, 2010''': 2 separate drone strikes kill 12-15 suspected militants in North Waziristan.<ref>http://www.aaj.tv/2010/09/drone-strikes-in-north-waziriastan-killing-5-people/</ref>  The first strike was near Miramshah, killing six "local" militants according to ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]''.  The second strike was near Data Khel, targetting the home of Gul Adam, and killed nine militants. ''[[SAMAA TV]]'' reported that a local Taliban commander named Inayatullah was reportedly killed in the strike.<ref>Roggio, Bill, "US Predators Kill 15 'Militants' In Pair Of Strikes In North Waziristan", ''[[Public Multimedia|LongWarJournal]]'', 3 September 2010.</ref><ref>http://www.samaa.tv/News25025-Missile_strikes_kill_9_militants_in_NWA_.aspx</ref>
*'''September 4, 2010''': US drones struck a compound in Datta Khel village in North Waziristan district killed eight militants including three foreign fighters.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100904/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanunrestusmissile</ref>
*'''September 6, 2010''': A US drone strike in [[North Waziristan]] kills 6 suspected militants.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-09-06/world/pakistan.drone.strike_1_drone-strike-tribal-region-north-waziristan?_s=PM:WORLD | work=CNN | title=Officials: 7 suspected militants killed in drone strike | date=July 15, 2010}}</ref>
*'''September 8, 2010''': US drones launch four separate attacks in a space of 24 hours. According to anonymous Pakistani intelligence officials: In the first attack, a house owned by Maulvi Azizullah, a member of the Haqqani network, in Dande Darpa Khel near Miranshah was struck killing at least 6 militants.<ref>[http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=118772&z=5 Hỏa tiễn giết 6 phiến quân ở Pakistan] {{vi}}</ref> In the second attack, drones fired missiles striking a car traveling a few miles from the border, killing four people associated with the Haqqani network. In the third attack, another house near the Miranshah area was struck killing another 4 militants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100908/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref> A few hours later US drones launched their fourth attack striking a compound outside Miranshah killing atleast 6 militants and wounding 5 others. All told 24 militants have been killed in these 4 strikes.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100909/wl_asia_afp/pakistanunrestusmissile</ref>
*'''September 11, 2010''': A US drone strike on the house of [[Hafiz Gul Bahadur]] in [[North Waziristan]] kills 5 suspected militants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100912/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_airstrike</ref>
*'''September 13, 2010''':  A US drone fires two missiles at a house in Shawal, North Waziristan, reportedly killing 13 militants.<ref>Rasool, Dawar, ([[Associated Pres]]), "[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100914/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan Suspected US missiles kill 10 in NW Pakistan]", [[Yahoo! News]], 14 September 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/14/suspected-u-s-drones-kill-13-in-pakistan/ | work=CNN | title=Suspected U.S. drones kill 13 in Pakistan}}</ref>
*'''September 14, 2010''': A US drone strike kills 12 militants in Dargah Mandi near Miran Shah, [[North Waziristan]].  The numerous strikes in September are reportedly part of a campaign against the Haqqqni Network.  The drone strikes in Pakistan against the network are meant to support concurrent special operations raids against the network's fighters in Afghanistan.<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/15/c_13496128.htm</ref><ref>[[Associated Press]], "U.S. drone kills 12 in Pakistan", ''[[Japan Times]]'', 16 September 2010, p. 4.</ref>
*'''September 15, 2010''': In an ongoing unprecedented drone offensive, a drone strike kills 4 militants in North Waziristan, including Saifullah Haqqani, first cousin of Haqqani Network leader [[Sirajuddin Haqqani]].<ref>http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/pakistan/US-drone-strike-kills-Haqqani-s-cousin/Article1-600520.aspx</ref>
*'''September 16, 2010''': US drones fired missiles at a house in Datakhel area, killing six militants.<ref>http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/21-militants-killed-in-two-attacks-690</ref>
*'''September 19, 2010''': US drones fire missiles at a house in Datta Khel, North Waziristan killing 5 militants.<ref>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100919/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</ref>
*'''September 20, 2010''': US drones launch two strikes killing a total of 12 militants in [[North Waziristan]], the first volley hit a vehicle in the Datakhel region killing 5, the second hit a house in Miran Shah killing 7.<ref>http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PAKISTAN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-09-20-08-11-23</ref><ref>http://www.deccanchronicle.com/international/5-militants-killed-us-drone-strike-pakistan-593</ref>
*'''September 21, 2010''': A US drone strike kills 12 militants in the South-North Waziristan boarder region, including Taliban commander Mullah Shamsullah.<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-09/22/c_13523918.htm</ref>
*'''September 25, 2010''': A US drone fired three missiles hitting a vehicle killing 4 militants in Datta Khel village of North Waziristan.<ref>http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/07-drone-strike-in-south-waziristan-kills-three-militants-ha-11</ref>
*'''September 26, 2010''': US drones launch two strikes against militants killing 7. In the first strike, drone fired three missiles at a house in Lwara Mandi village in Datta Khel, killing 3 militants. Minutes later, a drone fired two missiles at a vehicle in the same area, killing 4 militants.<ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD9IFLCAO0</ref>

==US viewpoint==
[[Barack Obama]] authorized the continuation of these strikes after he became [[US president]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012304189.html 2 U.S. Airstrikes Offer a Concrete Sign of Obama's Pakistan Policy], [[The Washington Post]], 2009-01-24</ref>  Top US officials consider these strikes very successful and  believe that the senior al-Qaeda leadership has been decimated by these strikes.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100160836 U.S. Officials: Al-Qaida Leadership Cadre 'Decimated'], [[NPR]], 2009-02-15</ref><ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5435471.ece Death from above: how Predator is taking its toll on al-Qaeda], [[The Times]], 2009-01-03</ref>  A list of the high-ranking victims of the drones was provided to Pakistan in 2009.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/09/top4.htm Drone strikes killed high-value targets, US tells Pakistan], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-02-09</ref>  Obama has broadened these attacks to include targets seeking to destabilize Pakistani civilian government and the attacks of February 14 and 16, 2009 were against training camps run by [[Baitullah Mehsud]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/washington/21policy.html Obama Widens Missile Strikes Inside Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-02-21</ref>  On February 25, 2009 [[Leon Panetta]], the director of the CIA indicated the strikes will continue.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/26/america/cia.php Panetta indicates strikes will continue in Pakistan], [[International Herald Tribune]], 2009-02-26</ref>  On March 4, 2009 ''[[The Washington Times]]'' reported that the drones were targeting Baitullah Mehsud.<ref>[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/04/us-takes-fight-to-taliban-leader/ U.S. takes fight to Taliban leader], [[The Washington Times]], 2009-03-04</ref>  Obama was reported in March 2009 as considering expanding these strikes to include [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]] <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/world/asia/18terror.html U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike Into Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-03-17</ref>

On March 25, 2010 US State Department legal advisor [[Harold Koh]] stated that the drone strikes were legal because of the right to self-defense.  According to Koh, the US is involved in an armed conflict with al-Qaida, the Taliban, and their affiliates and therefore may use force consistent with self-defense under international law.<ref>[[Agence France-Presse]], "U.S. offers argument for drone strikes", ''[[Japan Times]]'', March 28, 2010, p. 1.</ref>

US officials stated in March 2009 that the Predator strikes had killed nine of al-Qaeda's 20 top commanders.  The officials added that many top Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders, as a result of the strikes, had fled to [[Quetta]] or even further to [[Karachi]].<ref>Sanger, David E., and Eric Schmitt, "U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike Into Pakistan", ''[[New York Times]]'', March 18, 2009, p. 1.</ref>

Some US politicians have condemned the drone strikes. [[US Congress]]man [[Dennis Kucinich]] asserted that the United States was violating [[international law]] by carrying out strikes against a country that never attacked the United States.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/14/top17.htm US warned against sending troops to Pakistan: Congressman terms Bush’s decision an election issue -DAWN - Top Stories; September 14, 2008<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

US military reports asserted that [[al-Qaeda]] is being slowly but systematically routed because of these attacks, and that they have served to sow the seeds of uncertainty and discord among their ranks. They also claimed that the drone attacks have addled and confused the [[Taliban]], and have led them to turn against each other.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan-predator22-2009mar22,0,1530442,full.story U.S. missile strikes take heavy toll on Al Qaeda, officials say], [[The Los Angeles Times]], 2009-03-22</ref>

During a protest against drone attacks, in an event sponsored by [[Nevada Desert Experience]], Father [[Louie Vitale]], [[Kathy Kelly]], [[Stephen Kelly (SJ)|Stephen Kelly, SJ]], [[Eve Tetaz]], [[John Dear]], and others were arrested outside [[Creech Air Force Base]] on Wednesday April 9, 2009.<ref>[http://vcnv.org/resisting-the-afghanistan-pakistan-war VCNV]</ref><ref>[http://www.nevadadesertexperience.org/issues/2009/ground_the_drones.htm Ground the Drones]</ref>

In May 2009 it was reported that the USA was sharing drone intelligence with Pakistan.<ref>[http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-05-14-voa64.cfm US Shares Drone Intelligence with Pakistan, But No Joint Control], [[Voice of America]], 2009-05-14</ref>  [[Leon Panetta]] reiterated on May 19, 2009 that the US intended to continue the drone attacks.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/11-cia-chief-says-drones-minimise-collateral-damage--07 Drone attacks to continue in Pakistan: CIA chief], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-05-19</ref>

On July 20, 2009, the [[Brookings Institution]] released a report stating that ten civilians died in the drone attacks for every militant killed.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/13+drones+kill+10+civilians+for+one+militant-za-09  Drones kill 10 civilians for one militant: US report], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-07-21</ref>  It suggested the real answer to halting al-Qaeda's activity in Pakistan will be long-term support of Pakistan's [[counterinsurgency]] efforts.<ref>[http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2009/0714_targeted_killings_byman.aspx Do Targeted Killings Work?], [[Brookings Institution]], 2009-07-20</ref>
In July 2009 it was reported that (according to US officials) [[Osama Bin Laden]]'s son [[Saad bin Laden]] was believed to have been killed in a drone attack earlier in the year.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8164763.stm  Bin Laden son 'probably killed'], [[BBC]], 2009-07-23</ref>

In December 2009 expansion of the drone attacks was authorized by President [[Barack Obama]] to parallel the decision to send 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan.<ref name=NYT20091204>[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/world/asia/04drones.html C.I.A. to Expand Use of Drones in Pakistan], [[The New York Times]], 2009-12-03</ref>  Senior US officials are reportedly pushing for extending the strikes into [[Quetta]] in [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]] against the [[Quetta Shura]].<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-us-pakistan14-2009dec14,0,3617313,full.story Drone attacks may be expanded in Pakistan], [[Los Angeles Times]], 2009-12-14</ref>  Speaking at a news conference in [[Islamabad]] on January 7, 2010 Senators [[John McCain]] and [[Joe Lieberman]] stated the drone attacks were effective and would continue but stated that US would make greater efforts to prevent [[collateral damage]].<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/14-drone-attacks-will-continue-in-pakistan-mccain-zj-05 US senators defend drone attacks], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-01-08</ref>  In an effort to strenghthen trust with Pakistan 'US sharing drone surveillance data with Pakistan, says [[Mike Mullen]] '<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/5326126/US-sharing-drone-surveillance-data-with-Pakistan-says-Mike-Mullen.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=US sharing drone surveillance data with Pakistan, says Mike Mullen, The United States has taken the unprecedented step of sharing with Islamabad surveillance data collected by drones flying along over Pakistan, the top US military officer said on Thursday. | date=May 14, 2009 | accessdate=May 1, 2010}}</ref>
US defence budget for 2011 asked for a 75% increase in funds to enhance the drone operations.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/13+us-plans-75pc-increase-in-drone-operations-320-za-05 US plans 75pc increase in drone operations], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-02-03</ref>

The [[Associated Press]] (AP) noted that Barack Obama apparently expanded the scope and increased the aggressiveness of the drone campaign against militants in Pakistan after taking office.  According to the news agency, the US increased strikes against the Pakistani Taliban, which earned favor from the Pakistani government, resulting in increased cooperation from Pakistani intelligence services.  Also, the Obama administration toned down the US government's public rhetoric against Islamic terrorism, garnering better cooperation from other Islamic governments.  Furthermore, with the drawdown of the war in Iraq, more drones, support personnel, and intelligence assets became available for the campaigns in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Since Obama took office, according to the AP, the number of drones operated by the CIA over Afghanistan and Pakistan doubled.<ref>Apuzzo, Matt, ([[Associated Press]]), "Obama strategy widens assault on Pakistani, Afghan militants", February 12, 2010.</ref>  A May 2010 ''[[Reuters]]'' report quoted unnamed counterterrorism officials who speculated that the Obama administration's closure of the secret CIA interrogation centers and intent to close the Guantanamo Bay prison was a direct influence on the expansion of the drone assassinations.  According to the officials, the killings are necessary because there is no longer any place to put captured terrorists.<ref>Entous, Adam, [http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64H5SL20100518 "Special Report: How the White House learned to love the drone"], ''[[Reuters]]'', May 18, 2010.</ref>

A study called 'The Year of the Drone" published in February 2010 by [[New America Foundation]] found that in a total of 114 drone strikes in Pakistan between 2004 and early 2010 approximately between 834 and 1,216 individuals had been killed, about two thirds of whom were thought to be militants and one third were civilians.<ref>[http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones The Year of the Drone], [[New America Foundation]], 2010-02-25</ref>

According to media reports, in 2009 or 2010 CIA drones began employing smaller missiles in airstrikes in Pakistan in order to reduce collateral damage, including civilian casualties.  The new missiles, called the [[Small Smart Weapon]] or Scorpion, are reportedly about the size of a violin case (21&nbsp;inches long) and weigh 16&nbsp;kg.  The missiles are used in combination with new technology to increase accuracy and expanded surveillance, including the use of small, unarmed drones about the size of "pizza platters" to exactly pinpoint the location of targets.  The US hopes that civilian casualties will decrease, thereby decreasing public outrage over the missile strikes.<ref>[[Agence France-Presse]]-[[Jiji Press]], "CIA using smaller missiles:  report", ''[[Japan Times]]'', April 27, 2010, p. 7.</ref><ref>Warrick, Joby, and Peter Finn, "In Pakistan, CIA Refines Methods To Reduce Civilian Deaths", ''[[Washington Post]]'', April 26, 2010, p. 8.</ref>

==Pakistani response==
[[File:Image said to be Predator drone aircraft at Shamsi Airbase in Pakistan -- no longer available on Google Earth..jpg|thumb|[[Shamsi airbase]] in 2006, reported to show three Predator drones.<ref name=FoxNews2009-02-19>
{{Cite news
| url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/02/19/google-image-shows-base-pakistan/
| title=Official Confirms U.S. Using Pakistan Base to Launch Attacks],
| date=2009-02-19
| publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]
| accessdate=2009-07-02
}}</ref>]]

Pakistan has repeatedly protested these attacks as they are an infringement of its [[sovereignty]] and because civilian deaths have also resulted, including women and children, which has further angered the Pakistani government and people.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7738966.stm Pakistan protest to US ambassador], [[BBC]], 2008-11-20</ref><ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1507895/Pakistan-fury-as-CIA-airstrike-on-village-kills-18.html Pakistan fury as CIA airstrike on village kills 18], [[The Daily Telegraph]] 2006-01-16</ref><ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2008/09/2008985226998512.html Civilian deaths in Pakistan attack], [[Al Jazeera]], 2008-09-08</ref> General [[David Petraeus]] was told in November 2008 that these strikes were unhelpful.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/world/asia/04pstan.html Petraeus, in Pakistan, Hears Complaints About Missile Strikes], [[The New York Times]], 2008-11-04</ref> However on October 4, 2008 ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that there was a secret deal between the US and Pakistan allowing these drone attacks.<ref name=WP1>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/03/AR2008110302638.html A Quiet Deal With Pakistan], [[The Washington Post]], 2008-10-04</ref> [[US Senator]] [[Dianne Feinstein]] said in February 2009: “As I understand it, these are flown out of a Pakistani base.”<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/14/top2.htm US official says drones using Pakistan base], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-02-14</ref> Pakistani foreign minister [[Shah Mehmood Qureshi]] denied that this was true.<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C02%5C16%5Cstory_16-2-2009_pg7_4 Pakistani bases not being used for drone attacks: FM], [[Daily Times (Pakistan)]], 2009-02-16</ref>

Between November 2008 and January 2009 [[Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy]] (AIRRA), a think tank of researchers and activists from FATA and NWFP conducted a survey of the public opinion about the drone strikes in [[Federally Administered Tribal Areas]]. 5 teams of 5 researchers each interviewed 550 people from all walks of life.<ref name=NYT20091204/>  Based on the responses the researchers concluded ' The popular notion outside the Pakhtun belt that a large majority of the local population supports the Taliban movement lacks substance'.  Most people thought that the drone attacks were accurate and did not lead to anti American sentiment and were effective in damaging the militants.  In addition the locals wanted the Pakistani forces to also target the militants.<ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=165781 Drone attacks -- a survey], [[The News International]], 2009-03-05</ref>  According to Farhat Taj a member of AIRRA the drones have never killed any civilians.  Some people in Waziristan compare the drones to Ababils , the holy swallows sent by God to avenge [[Abraha]], the invader of the Khana Kaaba.<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\01\30\story_30-1-2010_pg3_5 analysis: Dangerous abyss of perceptions —Farhat Taj], [[Daily Times (Pakistan)]], 2010-01-30</ref>

In September 28, a spokesman for the [[Pakistani army]] condemned Washington's killing of Pakistani civilians and warned of retaliatory action: "Border violations by US-led forces in Afghanistan, which have killed scores of Pakistani civilians, would no longer be tolerated, and we have informed them that we reserve the right to self defense and that we will retaliate if the US continues cross-border attacks."<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=68818&sectionid=351020401 Pakistan threatens to retaliate against US<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The [[United Kingdom|British]] newspaper ''[[The Times]]'' stated on February 18, 2009 that the CIA was using [[Shamsi airfield]], 190 miles southwest of [[Quetta]] and 30 miles from the Afghan border, as its base for drone operations. [[Safar Khan]], a journalist based in the area near Shamsi, told the ''Times'', "We can see the planes flying from the base. The area around the base is a high-security zone and no one is allowed there."<ref name=TheTimes2009-02-18>
{{Cite news
| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5755490.ece
| title=Secrecy And Denial As Pakistan Lets CIA Use Airbase To Strike Militants
| date=2009-02-18
| page=1
| author=Coghlan, Tom, Zahid Hussain, and Jeremy Page
| publisher=The Times
| accessdate=2009-07-02
 | location=London}}</ref>
<ref name=TheTimes2009-02-18/>
Top US officials confirmed to [[Fox News Channel]] that [[Shamsi airfield]] had been used by the CIA to launch the drones since 2002.<ref name=FoxNews2009-02-19>
{{Cite news
| url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/02/19/google-image-shows-base-pakistan/
| title=Official Confirms U.S. Using Pakistan Base to Launch Attacks],
| date=2009-02-19
| author=
| publisher=[[Fox News Channel]]
| accessdate=2009-07-02
}}</ref>

The drone attacks continue, despite repeated requests made by [[Pakistani President]] [[Asif Ali Zardari]] through different channels.<ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20090082266 Share intelligence, stop drone attacks: Zardari to US], [[NDTV]] February 02, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-drone-strikes-in-pakistan-hours-after-sovereignty-pledge-934247.html US drone strikes in Pakistan hours after sovereignty pledge], [[The Independent]], September 18, 2008</ref> [[Baitullah Mehsud]] while claiming responsibility for the [[2009 Lahore police academy attacks]], stated that it was in retaliation for the drone attacks.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7973540.stm Lahore 'was Pakistan Taleban op'], [[BBC]], 2009-03-31</ref> According to ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', [[Pakistani intelligence]] has agreed to secretly provide information to the United States on Mehsud's and his militants' whereabouts while publicly the Pakistani government will continue to condemn the attacks.<ref>Wilkinson, Isambard, "Pakistan 'Helps US Drone Attacks'", ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', April 4, 2009.</ref>  According to Pakistani authorities, from January 14, 2006 to April 8, 2009, 60 U.S. strikes against Pakistan killed 701 people, of which 14 were Al-Qaeda militants and 687 innocent civilians.<ref>[http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=21440 60 drone hits kill 14 al-Qaeda men, 687 civilians], [[The News International]], 2009-04-10</ref>

On April 28, 2009 Pakistan's consul general to the US, [[Aqil Nadeem]], asked the US to hand over control of its drones in Pakistan to his government. Said Nadeem, "Do we want to lose the war on terror or do we want to keep those weapons classified? If the American government insists on our true cooperation, then they should also be helping us in fighting those terrorists."<ref>Christenson, Sig, "[http://mobile.mysa.com/articles/191351293 Pakistani: U.S. Should Cede Control Of Drones]", ''[[San Antonio Express-News]]'', April 29, 2009.</ref> President Zardari has also requested that Pakistan be given control over the drones but this has been rejected by the US who are worried that Pakistanis will leak information about targets to militants.<ref name=NYT0516/>  In December 2009 Pakistan's Defence minister [[Ahmad Mukhtar]] acknowledged that Americans were using Shamsi airfield but stated that Pakistan was not satisfied with payments for using the facility.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/13+us+forces+using+shamsi+airbase+in+balochistan-za-02 US forces using Shamsi airbase in Balochistan], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2009-12-12</ref>

In an analysis published in ''[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]'' on January 2, 2010 author Farhat Taj challenged the view that the local people of Waziristan were against the drone attacks. Author states on the basis of personal interviews with people in Waziristan that the locals in Waziristan support the attacks and see the drones as their 'liberators' from the clutches of Taliban and Pakistan's Intelligence agencies.  She further challenged the government of Pakistan to provide accurate figures about the 'civilian' casualties and tell what methodology was used to collect this data.  According to her 'The people of Waziristan are suffering a brutal kind of occupation under the Taliban and al Qaeda. It is in this context that they would welcome anyone, Americans, Israelis, Indians or even the [[devil]], to rid them of the Taliban and al Qaeda.'<ref>[http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C01%5C02%5Cstory_2-1-2010_pg3_5 analysis: Drone attacks: challenging some fabrications —Farhat Taj], [[Daily Times (Pakistan)]], 2010-01-02</ref>  In response to this analysis [[Irfan Husain]] writing in ''[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]'' agreed with her assessment and called for more drone attacks.  He wrote  'We need to wake up to the reality that the enemy has grown very strong in the years we temporized and tried to do deals with them. Clearly, we need allies in this fight. Howling at the moon is not going to get us the cooperation we so desperately need. A solid case can be made for more drone attacks, not less.<ref>[http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/14-irfan-husain-howling-at-the-moon-910-zj-11 Howling at the moon], [[Dawn (newspaper)]], 2010-01-09</ref>

==United Nations human rights concerns==
On June 3, 2009, the [[United Nations Human Rights Council]] (UNHRC) delivered a report sharply critical of US tactics.  The report asserted that the US government has failed to keep track of civilian casualties of its military operations, including the drone attacks, and to provide means for citizens of affected nations to obtain information about the casualties and any legal inquests regarding them.<ref name="cnn_un_probe">"[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/06/04/drone.attacks/ U.N. envoy calls for probe into U.S. drone attacks]", [[CNN]], June 4, 2009</ref>  Any such information held by the U.S. military is allegedly inaccessible to the public due to the high level of secrecy surrounding the drone attacks program.<ref name="harpers_secrecy">Silverstein, Ken, "[http://www.harpers.org/archive/2009/06/hbc-90005193 Is Secrecy on Drone Attacks Hiding Civilian Casualties?]", [[Harper's Magazine]], June 12, 2009</ref>  The US representative at UNHRC has argued that the UN investigator for extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary [[execution]]s does not have jurisdiction over US military actions,<ref name="cnn_un_probe"/> while another US diplomat claimed that the US military is investigating any wrongdoing and doing all it can to furnish information about the deaths.<ref name="reuters_un_probe">MacInnis, Laura, "[http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL31016477 UN envoy seeks more U.S. openness on war deaths]", [[Reuters]], June 3, 2009</ref>

On October 27, 2009 UNHRC investigator Philip Alston called on the US to demonstrate that it was not randomly killing people in violation of international law through its use of drones on the Afghan border.  Alston criticized the US's refusal to respond to date to the UN's concerns.  Said Alston, "Otherwise you have the really problematic bottom line, which is that the Central Intelligence Agency is running a program that is killing significant numbers of people and there is absolutely no accountability in terms of the relevant international laws."<ref>Reuters, "U.S. Use Of Drones Queried By U.N.", ''[[New York Times]]'', October 28, 2009.</ref>

On June 2, 2010 Alston's team released a report on its investigation into the drone strikes, criticizing the United States for being, "the most prolific user of targeted killings" in the world.  Alston, however, acknowledged that the drone attacks may be justified under the right to self-defense.  He called on the US to be more open about the program.  Alston's report was submitted to the [[United Nations Commission on Human Rights]] the following day.<ref>Cloud, David, S., "U.N. Analyst Faults U.S. Drone Use", ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 3, 2010, p. 1.</ref>

==See also==
*[[War in North-West Pakistan]]
*[[Terrorism in Pakistan]]
*[[List of terrorist incidents in Pakistan since 2001]]
*[[Violence in Pakistan 2006-09]]
*[[Operation Menu]] (the secret bombing of Laos during the [[Vietnam War]])

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8329412.stm UN human rights investigator Philip Alston warned US on deadly drone attacks]
*[http://www.newamerica.net/publications/articles/2009/drone_war_13672 The Drone War – By Peter Bergen, Katherine Tiedemann, New America Foundation ]
* [http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones New America Foundation: The Year of the Drone]
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=122 FACTSHEET: MQ-1 PREDATOR UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM]
*[http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=6405 FACTSHEET: MQ-9 REAPER UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM]
*[http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/03/pakistan_map.html Interactive Map on U.S. Airstrikes in Pakistan from the Center for American Progress]
* [http://www.longwarjournal.org/ The Long War Journal - an online publication that tracks the C.I.A.’s drone campaign]
* [http://www.longwarjournal.org/pakistan-strikes-hvts.php Senior al Qaeda and Taliban leaders killed in US airstrikes in Pakistan since 2004]
*[http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&msid=113923708338551641006.00047caa42cb2374421e4&ll=33.031693,70.587158&spn=1.611824,3.295898&z=8&source=embed Google Map of U.S. Drone Attacks in Pakistan since 2004]
*[http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/drones UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston Responds to US Defense of Drone Attacks’ Legality] - video report by ''[[Democracy Now!]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drone Attacks In Pakistan}}
[[Category:War on Terror]]
[[Category:Airstrikes]]
[[Category:Al-Qaeda]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism policy of the United States]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism]]
[[Category:2009 in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan – United States relations]]
[[Category:War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]
[[Category:Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses]]
[[Category:Obama administration controversies]]
[[Category:Terrorism in Pakistan]]

[[pl:Lista amerykańskich nalotów w Pakistanie]]
[[ur:پاکستان پر امریکی ڈرون حملے]]
[[Category:2Fix]]