Militants' commanders among 18 killed in drone strike in Damadola.

KHAR, October 24, 2009 (Frontier Star): At least 18 people including three foreigner militants were killed in a Hellfire missile strike on Damadola, 20 km northeast of here, on Saturday, local residents and witnesses said. They said that a pilotless predator fired two missiles on residence of Deputy Ameer Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Maulvi Faqir in Chotra, a small hamlet in the Damadola area, Bajaur tribal area, about seven kilometers from the Afghan border. A security official confirmed the missile strike but put the initial death toll at between 14 and 18. The missiles had hit the compound of Maulvi Faqir and underground bunkers, where militants had gathered. Maulvi Faqir's nephew and son-in-law, three Uzbeks and two militants' top commanders were among those killed, sources said. Political administration has confirmed death of 14 people in the strike but also expressed fear in rise of casualties. This is the fourth missile strike by American planes on Damadola. Eighteen people, including 14 members of one family, were killed when a residential compound was hit on Jan 13, 2006 in Damadola. It was hit again by a pilotless predator on Oct 30, 2006, killing 82 people, many children among them. At least 12 people were killed in a Hellfire missile strike on Damadola on May 14, 2008.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)