Doga Mada Khel (N. Waziristan) Drone Attack V – Jul 2014
Date: 19/07/2014
Location: North Waziristan Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Perpetrators: United States
Victims: 12 Killed
What Happened?
19 July 2014: A U.S. drone strike destroyed multiple houses in the Doga Mada Khel area of Datta Khel Tehsil. The New York Times alleged the target to be a large militant compound with explosive-laden cars inside. The News alleged the target to be two militant hideouts.
Associated Press alleged the target to be a ‘sprawling compound’, while quoting an anonymous security official saying that the targets were multiple tents and mud-huts, allegedly occupied by militants who were fleeing Miranshah after the Pakistani ground offensive under Operation Zarb e Azb.
The victims were reportedly mutilated beyond recognition, making identification impossible. The Guardian and NYT alleged militants of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) to be among the dead, along with TTP fighters.
Because Datta Khel was primarily under control of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, with which Islamabad had a long-running peace deal, it is possible that U.S. drone assets were requisitioned in lieu of Pakistani ground troops to attack this area. Nevertheless, Hafiz Gul Bahadur declared war on Pakistan the next day after this attack.
Sources: NYT, AP, The News, Newsweek Pakistan
OMM-PK365