Cooper Republic

There are unconfirmed reports US troops in Afghanistan are massing close to the border with Pakistan, poised to launch bombing raids on suspected terrorist bases in the North Waziristan region, British and Pakistani newspapers reported Wednesday. Nine American soldiers were killed and 15 wounded Sunday in an attack by militants on a US base in Kunar province, close to the Pakistani border. The Times said troops have been airlifted from the village of Lowara Mandi and that heavy artillery and armoured vehicles were also being moved into position for possible cross-border attacks on Pakistan. The paper said US Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a visit to Islamabad at the weekend, had told Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership that the US could take unilateral military action if Pakistan were unable to stop cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. Mullen also said some elements within Pakistani security agencies could be helping insurgents operate from their bases in the border region, the paper quoted well-placed sources as saying. The Times quoted an influential Pakistani army official as saying there were strong indications the US was ready to launch bombing raids against suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban camps inside Pakistan. The Pakistani newspaper The News quoted official and tribal sources in the North Waziristan area as saying NATO troops had started arriving near the border areas on Monday night.

Iran has test fired nine long- and medium-range missiles, including one which it has previously said could travel as far as Israel and U.S. bases in the region, state media reported on Wednesday. The tests occurred at a time of increased tension between Iran and Israel over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme, which the West fears is aimed at making bombs. Iran says its nuclear program is only for power generation. State Press TV said the missiles tested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards included a “new” Shahab 3 missile, which officials have said could reach targets 2,000 km (1,250 miles) away. Jerusalem sources: Saudis not opposed to Israel strike on Iran. Saudi officials suggested to their Israeli counterparts in a recent meeting that Saudi Arabia would not be opposed to an Israeli strike against Iran, senior Jerusalem officials told Haaretz Tuesday.