Woman Killed, Three Injured in Drone Attack in Bannu

Bannu — A woman was killed and three others injured in a suspected drone attack in Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, late Tuesday night, police confirmed on Wednesday.

According to officials, two quadcopter drones were used in the attack—one struck Merian Police Station and the other hit a residential house, resulting in casualties. “One woman died on the spot and three individuals sustained injuries,” police reported. The injured have been shifted to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Bannu for treatment.

Earlier in the morning, the Merian Police Station was also targeted, causing damage to solar panels installed on the premises.

Law enforcement agencies have launched a search operation in the affected areas, suspecting that the attack was carried out by militant groups known to operate in the region. This marks the fourth drone-based attack in Bannu, highlighting a troubling escalation in the use of quadcopter drones by militants for precision strikes.

To counter the growing threat, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police recently acquired a state-of-the-art anti-drone system. Officials say the system is designed to detect and disable unauthorized drones from long distances and will be deployed to secure key government installations, public figures, and sensitive events.

Rising Trend in Militant Attacks

This latest attack in Bannu comes amid a broader increase in militant activity across Pakistan. According to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), May 2025 witnessed 85 militant attacks, a 5% rise from April’s tally of 81 incidents.

The violence claimed 113 lives, including 52 security personnel, 46 civilians, 11 militants, and four peace committee members. Another 182 people were injured, with 130 civilians among the casualties, representing a 145% increase in civilian injuries compared to April.

Particularly alarming is the 73% rise in security personnel deaths, underscoring the persistent threat to Pakistan’s law enforcement and military forces. Although militant injuries and security personnel injuries showed a decline, the geographical focus of the attacks remained unchanged, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan emerging as the most affected provinces.

Balochistan reported the highest number of fatalities, with 35 attacks leading to 51 deaths, including 30 civilians, 18 security personnel, and 3 militants, along with 100 injured, the majority being civilians.

Read more: ISPR: Security Forces Eliminate 30 Terrorists in Border Clash

Mounting Security Concerns

Officials warn that the continued use of drones by militant groups represents a new phase of asymmetric warfare, making detection and prevention more complex. The KP government is now prioritizing the deployment of anti-drone systems and enhancing surveillance capabilities in conflict-prone districts.

As militant groups adapt their tactics, security experts stress the need for proactive intelligence gathering, community engagement, and inter-agency coordination to preempt further attacks and ensure the safety of civilians and frontline security personnel.