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Pakistani Taliban chief survived US airstrike
By Bill Roggio, January 15, 2010 8:24 AM
The leader of the Pakistani Taliban who was targeted by the US in an airstrike in the tribal areas survived but may have been wounded.
US intelligence officials believe Hakeemullah Mehsud escaped the airstrike that killed 12 Taliban and foreign fighters. Two Arabs and several Uzbek fighters were among those reported killed.
Hakeemullah may have been wounded, according to reports in the Pakistani press. BBC Urdu reported that Hakeemullah was treated for a head wound.
"All indications are that Hakeemullah survived the airstrike," A US intelligence official told The Long War Journal. Officials would not comment on reports that Hakeemullah was wounded.
The Pakistani Taliban have denied their leader was killed or even wounded in the strike, but confirmed he was in the town when the strike took place.
"Hakeemullah is alive and safe," Tariq Azam, the spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan told AFP. "I met with him last night, there was not even a scratch on him. He left the place (of the strike) 40 or 60 minutes beforehand."
Read more: Pakistani Taliban chief survived US airstrike - The Long War Journal
By Bill Roggio, January 15, 2010 8:24 AM
The leader of the Pakistani Taliban who was targeted by the US in an airstrike in the tribal areas survived but may have been wounded.
US intelligence officials believe Hakeemullah Mehsud escaped the airstrike that killed 12 Taliban and foreign fighters. Two Arabs and several Uzbek fighters were among those reported killed.
Hakeemullah may have been wounded, according to reports in the Pakistani press. BBC Urdu reported that Hakeemullah was treated for a head wound.
"All indications are that Hakeemullah survived the airstrike," A US intelligence official told The Long War Journal. Officials would not comment on reports that Hakeemullah was wounded.
The Pakistani Taliban have denied their leader was killed or even wounded in the strike, but confirmed he was in the town when the strike took place.
"Hakeemullah is alive and safe," Tariq Azam, the spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan told AFP. "I met with him last night, there was not even a scratch on him. He left the place (of the strike) 40 or 60 minutes beforehand."
Read more: Pakistani Taliban chief survived US airstrike - The Long War Journal