Missiles hit two villages in Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan – Suspected U.S. missiles slammed into two villages close to the Afghan border Friday, killing 27 people including an Arab al-Qaida operative and other foreign militants, intelligence officials said.

The new strikes raised the number of such attacks to at least 17 since August. The surge has angered many Pakistanis and put strains on a seven-year U.S. alliance with Pakistan, where rising violence is exacerbating economic problems gnawing at the nuclear-armed country’s stability.

The apparent attacks by American unmanned planes come amid Washington’s frustration at what U.S. officials say is Pakistan’s failure to curb Islamic extremists blamed for attacks in both Afghanistan and Pakistan – and suspected of planning Sept. 11-style terror strikes in the West.

The al-Qaida member reportedly killed Friday was identified as Abu Kasha Iraqi, the intelligence officials said.

He had been living in Pakistan’s tribal region for about three years and had been organizing attacks on foreign troops in Afghanistan, they said.