UAV attack in Pakistan

Bill Roggio:

US unmanned Predator strike aircraft fired missiles at Taliban safe houses in two villages in South Waziristan, according to reports from the region.

At least eight people were killed in attacks on the villages of Karikot and Shin Warsak near Wana, AFP reported. "It was not immediately clear if the twin strikes, only minutes apart, targeted any senior Taliban or Al-Qaeda fugitives," a senior Pakistani security official told the news agency.

The Wana region is a stronghold of Mullah Nazir, a Taliban chieftain and rival of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. The US targeted Nazir and Tahir Yuldashev, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, in a strike near Wana on Nov. 7. Nazir was wounded in the attack. Yuldashev's status is still unknown.

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This AFP report has more details and suggest the enemy is trying to find a way to fight back against the UAV attacks.

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"Two vehicles fitted with guns were destroyed," the official said, adding that those killed were all inside the cars, which were camouflaged with mud and grass.

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It sounds like the enemy gave their position away by firing on the UAV. They maybe trying some rudimentary anti aircraft defense. Most of the UAV fly above the range of these weapons, but I am sure the crews appreciate the heads up on the location of enemy forces. If they were actually firing from cars, it suggest AK-47 rounds which have little hope of reaching the UAVs. If they were in pickup trucks with 50 caliber machine guns m,ounted in the med they might have a better chance, but not much better.