What Happened?

06 July 2012: A U.S. drone strike destroyed a house in the Ghazlamai or Zoi Saidgi area of Datta Khel Tehsil. The attack reportedly began at around 1940 hours. The victims, allegedly ‘suspected militants’, were killed while having dinner. A double-tap drone missile deliberately targeted the locals and civil rescue services that arrived to dig through the rubble, some thirty minutes later.

A triple-tap missile reportedly targeted the rescuers to arrive the first wave of rescuers. This series of attacks created a large-casualty massacre that led to 24+ fatalities and 22+ injuries, an overwhelming majority of whom were proven civilians. Multiple investigations by TBIJ, Reprieve, and other groups name many of the victims.

U.S. Intelligence sources allege that the strike had targeted a truck full of militants. This claim is not corroborated by on-ground, independent investigations. Data published years later by FATA officials also allege that a truck of suspected militants was targeted, which raises questions about the accuracy of FATA data.

It is notable that this civilian massacre was the first U.S. drone strike after Pakistan had reopened NATO land supply routes through its territory, after a seven month ban that had been in effect since November 2011, when ISAF had killed 24+ Pakistani soldiers in a friendly massacre case.

Confirmed Casualties: Salay Khan, Mir Jahan Gul, Allah Mir Khan, Noor Bhadshah Khan, Mir Gull Jan, Batkai Jan, Gallop Haji Jan, Gull Saeed Khan, Gul Dad Khan, Kahsmir Khan, Walayat Khan, Saleh Khan, Shamroz Khan, Fazel Rehman, Waliullah, Sahibuddin, Mir Ajab Khan, Min Gul, Bangal Khan, Dil Gir Khan, Shahid Din, Mir Ajat, Haq Nawaz, Hatiq Ullah, Akram, and Shoaib

Sources: Express Tribune, AFP, Reprieve, Amnesty

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