Hellfire hits Mehsud Taliban again

CNN:

A suspected U.S. drone attack killed at least 15 people in northwest Pakistan Friday morning, Pakistani officials said.

The missile strikes in South Waziristan targeted a suspected Taliban hideout, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The attack, three missiles shot from an unmanned drone, killed 15 and wounded as many as 25, the officials said.

Taliban officials in the area also confirmed the attack, but had a higher death toll,saying 17 were killed and 35 were wounded.

A Taliban top man, who did not want to be named, told CNN by phone that the missiles hit the Jihadi center of commander Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud in the village of Sarokai Kokat Khel.

The people killed and wounded were Taliban fighters, the Taliban official said. But others in the village were scared to go out of their homes and retrieve the bodies because of the possibility of another missile attack.

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These were redoubtably CIA Hellfire missiles. If three missiles were fired as reported, it was probably a Reaper which can carry more than the two that a Predator carries. It is interesting that the Taliban are not using their civilian casualty ruse in this attack. Nor will we have to see Pakistani officials complain about an attack on enemy forces they are also fighting.

In all, it appears to be pretty much a pretense free attack on all sides.