At least five killed in U.S. drone attack in North Waziristan

[News_Editor]

At least five killed in U.S. drone attack in North Waziristan

2011-02-25 03:17:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD (BNO NEWS) -- At least five militants were killed on Thursday in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan, officials say.

Local administration officials said the foreigners were of ethnic Turkmen origin and were driving near Mohammad Khel in the Dande Darpakhel area, as reported by the BBC. The area is known to be a hideout for al-Qaida militants.

Two intelligence officials said the drone fired two missiles on the militant's hideout, CNN reported.

On Monday, a suspected U.S. missile killed six people in North Waziristan tribal region, the second in two days in Pakistan.

These were the first drone strikes since the arrest of U.S. national Raymond Davis over the fatal shooting of two Pakistani individuals in January. On Monday, a Pakistani intelligence official said that Davis was a undercover Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contractor.

Based on a count by the CNN Islamabad bureau Thursday's suspected drone strike was the eleventh this year.

The United States is most active in the North Waziristan area as the region is known to be a stronghold of the Haqqani Network, which is considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

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