Get the Data: Obamaâ€™s Terror Drones

As part of its ongoing investigation into the US covert war the Bureau has examined thousands of credible media reports relating to more than 310 Central Intelligence Agency drone strikes in Pakistan.

These incidents were reported by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, CNN, ABC News, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, the BBC, Al Jazeera, and reputable Pakistani media (see bottom table).

CIA drone strikes tend to be reported on a case-by-case basis. Yet it became clear to the Bureau that a number of specific tactics were being deployed. These included multiple attacks by drones on rescuers attempting to aid victims of previous strikes. There were also a number of credible reports of funerals and mourners being attacked by CIA drones.

With the aid of Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai in Peshawar, the Bureau has spent four months working with independent researchers in Waziristan seeking to validate the reports. Villagers, militants and local officials have been questioned, and attempts made to identify those killed in the strikes.

Findings
The results provide independent verification of the tactics reported. Of the 18 attacks on rescuers and mourners reported at the time by credible media, twelve cases have been independently confirmed by our researchers. In each case civilians are reported killed, and where possible we have named them.

Strike Date	Location	Bureau’s Summary Findings
16/5/09	Khesoor North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Nine civilian rescuers reported killed – six named as Sabir, Ikram, Mohib, Zahid, Mashal and Syed Noor, all from the Utmanzai Wazir tribe. Four Taliban rescuers also died.
18/6/09	Wana, South Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Four civilian rescuers reported killed, named as Jehanzeb, Liaqat, Daraz and Sabil. Three Taliban rescuers also died.
23/6/09	Miram Shah, North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Supportive evidence. Between 18 and 45 civilians reported killed among up to 83 fatalities in strike on funeral.
17/12/09	Degan, North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Eyewitness testimony. Six civilian rescuers reported killed, five named as Bashirullah, Amir Khan, Shairullah, Abidullah and Fazle Rabbi, all of the Dawar tribe.
18/12/09	Degan, North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Five civilian funeral prayer-goers reported killed, four named as Syed Noor, Shakirullah, Banaras and Fayyaz.
6/1/10	Datta Khel North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Five civilian rescuers reported killed, four named as Khalid, Matiullah, Kashif, Zaman and Waqar, all of the Utmanzai Wazir tribe. No Taliban rescuers were reported killed.
2/2/10	Pai Khel North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Five civilian rescuers killed, named as Noor Janan, Farhad, Samad, Salam and Baseer. Four Taliban rescuers also died.
10/3/10	Datta Khel	Attack confirmed. Four civilian rescuers killed, named as Gulzar, Shamim, Majan and Sarwar. Two Taliban rescuers reported to have died.
16/4/10	Toor Khel North Waziristan	No confirmation. According to researchers no rescuers were killed.
15/9/10	Danda Darpakhel, North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Eyewitness testimony. Five civilian rescuers of the Dawar tribe reported killed, named as Yahya, Samin, Niamatullah, Shahzad and Ilyas. Three Taliban rescuers also reported killed.
20/9/10	Darazinda North Waziristan	No confirmation – researchers could find no evidence of rescuers killed.
22/9/10	Azam Warsak, South Waziristan	Unconfirmed.
13/10/10	Datta Khel	Attack confirmed. Three civilian rescuers killed – named as Bashir, Wajid and Laiq – along with five Taliban rescuers.
28/12/10	Ghulam Khan, North Waziristan	Attack confirmed. Two civilian rescuers reported killed, named as Jamil and Mustafa. No Taliban rescuers were reported among the dead.
28/12/10	Ghulam Khan	Eyewitness testimony. Not an attack on rescuers or civilians, according to researchers. Only militants died.
1/1/11	Mandi Khel North Waziristan	No rescuers killed, according to researchers.
11/3/11	Khesoor	Attack confirmed. Five civilian rescuers reported killed, named as Noor Gul, Jaffar, Faraz, Musa and Kamal. Five Taliban rescuers also reported killed.
20/6/11	Khardand, Kurram Agency	Although all of those killed were reportedly civilians, no rescuers were targeted in the attack.
12/7/11	Dray Nashtar, North Waziristan	Although not reported at the time by media, researchers claim that four civilian rescuers – named as Shabbir, Kalam, Waqas and Bashir died in the attack.

In six of the original cases the Bureau cannot confirm that rescuers and funeral-goers have been killed. So while, for example, all of those killed on June 20 this year were reported to be civilians, no evidence was found in the field that rescuers were involved. On other occasions, according to our researchers, only militants died and no rescuers were involved.

The Bureau’s researchers also identified one attack on rescuers, which had not been reported. They were told it took place on July 7, 2011 – which would make it the last known CIA attack on rescuers.

According to villagers in Waziristan, rescuers were also attacked on nine further occasions beginning on March 15 2008. The Bureau is continuing to work with its researchers to obtain further information and validation relating to these additional drone strikes, which are not included in the present data.

Locals offer funeral prayers for the victims of a drone strike in Miranshah, North Waziristan February 15, 2009

Original claims of attacks on rescuers and funeral-goers as reported by leading media.

Strike Date	Location	Alleged Target	Reported by
16/5/09	Khesoor, North Waziristan	Rescuers at housing compound	The News
18/6/09	Wana, South Waziristan	Rescuers at alleged Taliban compound	New York Times, AFP
23/6/09	Miram Shah, North Waziristan	Funeral-goers	AFP, New York Times, London Times (paywall)
17/12/09	Degan, North Waziristan	Rescuers at a house	CNN
18/12/09	Degan, North Waziristan	Funeral prayers for victims of previous strike	Daily Times
6/1/10	Datta Khel North Waziristan	Rescuers at alleged militant compound	AFP, CNN, Al Jazeera, Pajhwok (Afghan news agency)
2/2/10	Pai Khel North Waziristan	Possible rescuers in two vehicles	New York Times
10/3/10	Datta Khel	Rescuers at alleged militant compound	The News, Al Jazeera
16/4/10	Toor Khel North Waziristan	Rescuers at car	AFP
15/9/10	Darga Mandi North Waziristan	Rescuers at housing compounds	Pakistan Tribune
20/9/10	Darazinda North Waziristan	Rescuers at motorbike	AFP
22/9/10	Azam Warsak, South Waziristan	Funeral prayers for victims of previous strike (confused reports)	Al Jazeera
13/10/10	Datta Khel	Rescuers at house and car	Associated Press
28/12/10	Ghulam Khan, North Waziristan	Rescuers at compound after they waited three hours	CNN, ABC News, Al Jazeera
28/12/10	Ghulam Khan	Vehicle with wounded	Dawn
1/1/11	Mandi Khel North Waziristan	Rescuers at compound after they waited two hours	Associated Press, Al Jazeera
11/3/11	Khesoor	Rescuers at vehicle	AFP, Dawn, Pakistan Observer
20/6/11	Khardand, Kurram Agency	Rescuers at car	Associated Press

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