Update 2: Senior al-Qaeda operative among 5 killed in expanded US missile strikes in Pakistan

A major Al-Qaeda operative of Arab origin was among the five militants killed in a suspected US missile strike in northwest Pakistan, a senior security official told a foreign news agency Wednesday.

Security sources identified the militant as Abdullah Azam Al-Saudi, a senior member in Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.

"He was a senior commander of Al-Qaeda and was involved in recruiting and training of fighters," the senior official said.

He is the second high-profile Al-Qaeda operative killed in recent US missile strikes in Pakistan's rugged tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative Abu Jihad al-Masri, described by the US as the terror network's propaganda chief, was killed in a missile strike in Pakistan in the early hours of November 1.

He was among several rebels killed when two missiles fired by a suspected US spy drone hit a truck in the North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan, security officials said.

At least five people were killed and five others wounded when a missile fired by U.S. drone hit a house in remote area of Bannu on Wednesday.
According to sources, unmanned US drone fired a missile at the house of one Dilbar in Janikhel area of FR Bannu at 3:30am on Wednesday, killing five people and injuring five others. Sources said that airstrike was carried out over presence of foreign fighters in the house. The five people killed in the attack are reportedly nationals of Turkmenistan.

Four people including two women were killed and ten injured when mortar shells hit houses in Swat.
According to sources, two persons were killed and two injured when a mortar landed at a house in Dagay area in tehsil Kabal whereas two women were killed and eight other persons injured in Khowazakhel area when mortar shells hit different houses.
Meanwhile, security forces operation continued in tehsil Kabal and forces targeting militants positions in the area.
On the other hand, cable operators remained suspended cable transmission in the area after receiving threats from militants.

Two militants have been killed and several others injured in fresh shelling carried out by security forces in Bajaur Agency on Tuesday.
Security forces pounded militants’ positions in various parts of Mamond and Nawagai tehsils, killing two militants and injuring several others.
Several hideouts of suspected militants were also destroyed in the bombardment using tanks and artillery. Meanwhile, one missile fired by security forces landed at the house of one local person, however, no loss of life was reported.
Local administration said efforts were underway to recover the four tribal elders abducted by militants two days ago.
On the other hand, security forces have stepped up raids in Nawagai tehsil, believed to be the strongholds of militants.
Several check-posts were set up at important installations and trade centers after taking strict security measures across the agency.

U.S. top commander in Afghanistan said he doesn't have anything to do with the flurry of U.S. killer drone attacks in the nearby border regions of Pakistan.
In an interview with Pakistan's newspaper, General David McKiernan, the Commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan said, "these drones do not come under my command."
It's part of a delicate diplomatic dance surrounding the stepped-up unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes against the Pakistani-based militants who have become one of the leading dangers for coalition forces in Afghanistan. A U.S. newspaper calls it "a don't-ask-don't-tell policy" for the robotic assaults.
"The U.S. government refuses to publicly acknowledge the attacks while Pakistan's government continues to complain noisily about the politically sensitive strikes."
This wink-wink-nudge-nudge approach is made easier because the drones hitting Pakistan aren't being operated by the U.S. military, it seems. The Central Intelligence Agency is remotely-flying the UAVs.
Hence Gen. McKiernan's statement. "For more context, unmanned aerial vehicles operating within the borders of Afghanistan may fall under his command," a spokesman for McKiernan e-mails. "But anything in Pakistan would not come under his command. As Gen. McKiernan often puts it, his mandate stops at the Afghan border."

The top U.S. military officer said the Taliban is doing well right now, and it's no surprise that the militants would reject settlement talks with the Afghan government.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told media in an interview that the Taliban feels confident enough in its success to, as he put it, negotiate from a position of strength.
Taliban leaders spurned an offer of negotiations on Monday, saying they would not entertain talks so long as foreign forces remain in Afghanistan.