US drone attack kills six suspected militants in North Waziristan

At least six suspected militants were killed in a US drone strike early Wednesday in the Miramshah tehsil of North Waziristan tribal region where the Pakistan Army had launched a comprehensive operation against foreign and local terrorists hiding in sanctuaries in the area.

Intelligence sources said six missiles hit a compound and a vehicle in Dargah Mandi village in Miramshah.

The identities of those killed in the strikes could not be ascertained yet, sources said.

The army launched its long-awaited major operation 'Zarb-i-Azb' a week after an attack on the airport in Karachi, deploying troops, tanks and jets to the area in the crackdown on the Taliban and other militants.

Air strikes early Tuesday targeted three Taliban strongholds in the town of Mir Ali in the North Waziristan tribal region, killing 25 of the militants, according to official statements, raising the total insurgent death toll to 201.

This is the third drone attack in a month, the earlier two successive US drone strikes killing at least 16 suspected militants in the North Waziristan tribal region.