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Pakistan Taliban leader's wife dies in suspected drone attack

  • Story Highlights
  • 2 dead, 4 wounded in suspected U.S. drone attack in northwestern Pakistan
  • Target was home of relative of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, sources say
  • Sources say Mehsud's second wife was one of fatalities
  • U.S. is only country in region known to have ability to launch drone attacks
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suspected U.S. drone attack killed the wife of the leader of the Pakistan Taliban Wednesday, according to intelligence sources and relatives.

The unmanned aerial vehicle targeted the home of Baitullah Mehsud's father-in-law in northwestern Pakistan, dropping two missiles, an intelligence official said.

Mehsud's second wife was one of two people killed in the strike, according to the sources. Four others were wounded, they said.

Muhammad Jamal, a Taliban member in the area, told CNN that the attack caused injuries to children and women.

The U.S. military routinely offers no comment on reported drone attacks. However, the United States is the only country operating in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely

Mehsud and other key Taliban leaders have been targeted by the ongoing Pakistani military operation in northwest Pakistan. Hideouts linked to Mehsud are regularly shelled by both Pakistani aircraft and suspected U.S. drones. Video Watch how remote-controlled drones are revolutionizing warfare »

Mehsud's close aide recently confirmed that the Pakistani Taliban chief was behind the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was gunned down at a political rally in December 2007.

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Bhutto's widower, Asif Ali Zardari, is the current president of Pakistan.

The Pakistani government and CIA officials have said in the past that Mehsud was responsible for Bhutto's death.

Journalist Janullah Hashimzada contributed to this report.

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