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Eleven militants, including three foreigners, were killed when missiles fired from American drones struck a house and two vehicles in Pakistan's northwest tribal region near the Afghan border. The unmanned spy planes fired at least seven missiles during the strikes, targeting the house and the vehicle on Wednesday evening in North Waziristan tribal area, which is dominated by the Taliban.
The dead militants were linked to the Taliban and Al Qaeda, officials said. In the first strike, a drone fired two missiles at a house in Latakka area of Datta Khel sub-division, 30 km southeast of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan Agency. Four militants were killed in the strike.
After about five minutes, a drone fired two missiles at a vehicle parked near the house, killing two militants believed to be foreign nationals. The third strike targeted a vehicle while the same house was targeted again in the fourth attack. Five more militants were killed in these strikes. The last two attacks occurred just after 9 pm.
In recent weeks, the United States has significantly increased drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal areas, which it calls the global headquarters of the Al Qaeda and dreaded Haqqani network. Over 140 people have been killed in more than two dozen missile since early September in the region.
Among those killed include a British terror suspect who was to head the Al Qaeda group in the United Kingdom, the Islamic Army of Great Britain, and was tasked to carry out Mumbai-style attacks on London, Paris and other European cities. More than 1,100 people have been killed in over 140 US drone missile strikes in the area since August 2008.