VOA常速英语2008年-Missile Strike in Pakistan Destroys Suspected M

By Ayaz Gul
Islamabad
16 March 2008

A missile strike against a suspected militant¹ hideout in a Pakistan tribal² region bordering Afghanistan on Sunday is said to have killed at least 18 people.  From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

The attack took place in Wana, the administrative³ center of the South Waziristan tribal region.  Residents say the missile strike destroyed the house of a suspected militant tribal leader identified as Noorullah, and most of the deaths occurred immediately.

Local media reports there were foreign nationals, including some Arabs present in the compound when the attack took place. 

It is not clear who fired the missiles, but U.S-led coalition⁴ forces based in Afghanistan have in the past carried out attacks inside the Pakistani border region, a known safe haven⁵ for al-Qaida and Taliban militants⁶.

Officials of the coalition forces across the Afghan border have not commented on the incident.

Speaking to VOA, army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas distanced the Pakistani military from the incident.

"About five to six explosions were heard from this area of Wana," Abbas said. "And exactly what is the nature of the explosion, and whether there are casualties or not I have not got any confirmed information."

General Abbas says a military team has been sent to the scene to investigate the blast.

A suspected U.S missile strike in January in the adjoining North Waziristan region killed a senior al-Qaida leader, Abu Laith al-Libi.  The details of his death are still uncertain, but media reports at that time quoted un-named American officials as saying an un-manned CIA drone carried out the missile attack.

Pakistani authorities described that incident as an accidental explosion in a militant hideout and did not confirm the killing⁷ of al-Libi.

Analysts⁸ say both Pakistan and the United States fear that any official confirmation⁹ of such missile strikes inside the Pakistani border may fuel anti-American sentiment.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。