Key Al-Qaeda operative among 5 killed in North Waziristan drone strike

PESHAWAR:

The US drone strike on Sunday killed at least five including a key Al-Qaeda leader Umer Farooq alias Umer Ustad in Dattakhel, North Waziristan Agency.

Local media reported that US drone fired two missiles on a compound in Khat Tangi village, Dattakhel, leaving five killed and three severely injured. The compound was destroyed completely.

Deceased Umer Ustad has in the past served as Al Qaeda's spokesman in Pakistan in 2009. He was reportedly the first Pakistani national to be promoted to a leadership position in Al-Qaeda.

Officials have earlier described him as Al-Qaeda’s operational in-charge for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Sunday's strike comes a day after the Pakistan military confirmed the killing of wanted Al-Qaeda leader Adnan Shukrijumah during a raid at a compound in Shin Warsak, South Waziristan Agency on Saturday.

North Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with insurgents and are alleged to be strongholds of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives, among others.

Pakistan's military in mid-June had launched an all-out operation, named 'Zarb-i-Azb', against Taliban militants in the region.