Seamonkey
04-01-2011, 07:19
ARIZONA – U.S. missiles hit a suspected drug cartel hide-out, killing 16 gunmen in a troubled Arizona region along the U.S. border before dawn Saturday, intelligence officials said.
The six missiles struck a compound in the desert area of South Tucson. The hide-out was known to be frequented by drug smugglers who were among the dead, two intelligence officials said.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to go on the record, said agents were trying to get more details about the identities and nationalities of the dead.
Army spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.
U.S. missile strikes regularly pound drug cartel routes in the southwest since the President declared the unimpeded flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into U.S. soil represented a clear and present danger to National Security.
The vast majority of strikes have hit targets in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — home to several smuggler networks that carry illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S.
The six missiles struck a compound in the desert area of South Tucson. The hide-out was known to be frequented by drug smugglers who were among the dead, two intelligence officials said.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to go on the record, said agents were trying to get more details about the identities and nationalities of the dead.
Army spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.
U.S. missile strikes regularly pound drug cartel routes in the southwest since the President declared the unimpeded flow of drugs and illegal immigrants into U.S. soil represented a clear and present danger to National Security.
The vast majority of strikes have hit targets in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — home to several smuggler networks that carry illegal immigrants and drugs into the U.S.