Hitting the communication center is a way to effect Mehsud's command and control and send him back to more primitive methods. The downside is that we are giving up the opportunity to intercept his communications.The US military conducted yet another Predator airstrike against Baitullah Mehsud's forces in Pakistan's Taliban controlled tribal agency in South Waziristan.
The latest strike targeted a Taliban communications center in the town of Painda Khel, according to the Associated Press. A US intelligence official contacted by The Long War Journal confirmed the strike.
Three Taliban fighters were reported killed in the Painda Khel airstrike. No senior Taliban or al Qaeda fighters were reported killed at this time.
Today's airstrike is the fourth this week. All of the attacks took place in Baitullah Mehsud's tribal areas. The US launched a pair of strikes on a Taliban convoy and a training camp in South Waziristan two days ago. More than 50 Taliban fighters and several al Qaeda operatives were reported killed in the pair of attacks.
The day prior, a strike on a training camp killed 12 Taliban fighters and four al Qaeda operatives. Kifayatullah Anikhel, a close relative of Baitullah Mehsud and a senior Taliban commander, was reported killed in the attack.
South Waziristan is a major focus of the US air campaign against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Of the 30 US strikes carried out in Pakistan this year, 22 of them took place in South Waziristan.
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I suspect that the more primitive methods may also expose Mehsud's whereabouts. If he is having to use messengers to carry his communications with subordinates it may be possible to follow the messengers with UAVs that will reveal the commanders location.
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