September 11, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 10, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 10: A US missile strike targeting a top Taliban commander in Pakistan’s northwest killed four mid-level Al Qaeda operatives, a security official and a militant source said on Wednesday.

Monday’s strike in North Waziristan failed to kill Jalaluddin Haqqani or his son, Sirajuddin, accused by Afghan and western forces of orchestrating the ongoing insurgency across the border in Afghanistan.

Five missiles fired by US drones destroyed a seminary and an underground tunnel built by the Haqqanis in Darpa Dandekhel, near Miramshah, the main town in the troubled tribal district, killing 21.

“According to local sources the strike killed four Al Qaeda operators and some extended family members of Haqqani’s,” a security official told AFP.

A source in Haqqani’s group confirmed the death of four Arabs, identified as Abu Haris, Abu Hamza, Abu Qasim and Abu Musa Alkhyan.

The names are thought to be cover names and neither the security official nor militant source would reveal their real identities.—AFP