Tom Tschida/Agence France-Presse -- Getty Images

By PIR ZUBAIR SHAH and ALAN COWELL
Published: July 3, 2009

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 13 people were killed Friday in what was suspected to be an attack by an American drone in a remote village stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, according to two residents reached by telephone.

A Pakistani intelligence official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to talk to reporters, confirmed the attack but declined to give details. The United States routinely withholds comment on suspected drone attacks, of which there have been at least 40 since August.

The residents asked not to be identified by name because of high tensions after the attack. They said three missiles struck in a village called Zamarai Nairai in an area of the lawless South Waziristan tribal region known as a stronghold of militants led by Baitullah Mehsud, the presumed leader of the Pakistani Taliban. He has been blamed by the Pakistani authorities for a string of suicide attacks in many parts of Pakistan.

Residents said the missiles Friday hit a compound in the village that was being used as a base and a training camp.

Some news reports put the death toll at 15.

South Waziristan is mountainous region along Pakistan’s largely porous border with Afghanistan, where the United States and forces from other countries are locked in an escalating war with Taliban insurgents. A column of some 4,000 United States Marines, supported by British and Afghan forces, began a major offensive Thursday in southern Afghanistan.

The Pakistani Army has indicated that it is preparing for an offensive of its own into South Waziristan, but its planners faced a setback this week when another Taliban leader in neighboring North Waziristan decided to pull out of a truce struck in February 2008.

The Associated Press reported Friday that Pakistani warplanes bombed suspected militant hide-outs in North Waziristan, killing four militants and wounding seven others.

Pir Zubair Shah reported from Islamabad, and Alan Cowell from Paris.

Fuente: The New York Times