ZIONICA.com

CIA drones target al-Qaida's second in command

The CIA has carried out a half-dozen drone strikes in Pakistan in less than two weeks, the latest targeting al-Qaida's second in command, as the U.S. pushes ahead with the controversial program despite Pakistani demands that it stop.

A CIA drone strike Monday targeted Abu Yahia al-Libi in Pakistan, but it was unclear whether he was among those hit, U.S. officials said.

U.S. officials say fewer than five people were hit, although Pakistani officials say more than a dozen people were killed in two days of strikes in Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the classified drone program.

U.S. officials said they did not know yet whether al-Libi was among those killed, but said they were "optimistic."

A senior Pakistani intelligence official said they could not confirm whether al-Libi had been killed. U.S. officials do not share information on targets, "so we don't know who they are targeting," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with agency policy. "We either hear it from the media or get confirmation from the ground, which we don't have yet."