VOA标准英语2009年-Suspected Drone Strike Kills 12 in Northwe

By Sean Maroney
Islamabad
25 September 2009
 

 
Pakistani authorities say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed at least 12 people believed to be militants² in a remote border region of Pakistan. 

Security officials say Thursday's missile strike hit a house in the North Waziristan tribal³ region near the Afghan border.

Authorities have not identified those killed, but the missile reportedly targeted militants loyal to Afghan Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani.

The area is believed to be a stronghold for Haqqani's network, which is blamed for attacks in Afghanistan against the Afghan government and foreign troops.

U.S. unmanned aircraft, known as drones, are believed to have fired more than 40 missiles in recent months at suspected al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the region.

Officials say such strikes are believed to have killed several high-level militant¹ commanders, including former Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

But former security chief of Pakistan's tribal regions, Mahmood Shah, says that regardless of any success, such strikes undermine Pakistan's government.

"The Americans, if they want to be good to Pakistan, they need to transfer the [drone] technology to Pakistan," Shah said.

Shah says the Pakistani military has been successful in its own fight against the Taliban. Five months ago, the military launched a major offensive in and around Swat Valley to the north, and Shah says he expects Pakistani forces to strike in South Waziristan soon.

 
Pakistan's military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas (File)
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas tells VOA that the operation would strike at the heart of Baitullah Meshud's network, now reportedly run by Hakimullah Mehsud

"This is the network which is the center of gravity in the area," Abbas said. "It has a huge presence of foreigners, foreign militants in the area, which are also giving training to the locals."

Meanwhile in Afghanistan, U.S. military officials say insurgent⁴ attacks killed five American troops in areas bordering Pakistan.

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 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。

3 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。

4 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。