The attack was the first since a massive anti-drone rally last weekend near the lawless region known as a stronghold of Taliban and al Qaeda militants, they said.
“Several US drones flew into the area before dawn and fired four missiles on a compound, killing five suspected militants,” a security official told AFP after the strike in Hurmuz area, east of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan tribal region.
Another security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar confirmed the attack and casualties.
The identities of those killed in the strike was not immediately clear.
The al Qaeda-linked Haqqani network in North Waziristan, blamed for some of the deadliest attacks in Afghanistan, is one of the thorniest issues between Islamabad and Washington.
The attacks by unmanned US aircraft remain contentious -- they are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, which says they violate its sovereignty and fan anti-US sentiment, but American officials are said to believe they are too important to give up.
COMMENTS (44)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I wonder if the US would be so enthusiastically sending drones if a similar problem was occurring in Russia or China?
Guys, I can see Imran Khan apoplectic and frothing in rage. To him, Malala was yesterday's story. In fact, now he has an excuse to claim why his children are not residing or studying in Pakistan.
Now, let's see how he can redeem himself. How about a march to the Kashmir border to reclaim all of Kashmir? Or a march to Jerusalem to claim all of it for the Ummah?
I wonder how Malala feels about the Drones who target the people who tried to kill her..
Drone war is a joint US, Pakistan operation. America didn't violate Pakistani sovereignty as there is a tacit understanding between the two countries. It is a win win situation for both countries.Pakistani security forces set the target and America pull the trigger. It is as simple as that.How does US know how to cherry pick their targets. Without human intelligence and guidance, drones are useless. Civilians get killed as Talibans don't mind using civilians as human shield. I would be surprised if Talibans don't do so.
Since everyone likes drone. i hope drone attacks Park Tower, Clifton too after following some taliban in the building so that people realize for one person how many they kill and how it feels.
US is doing Pakistan a huge favor by blowing these fanatic cowards to smithereens with the drones. It is time to admit that instead of the usual anit-American rhetoric from the likes of Imran-Taliban Khan. (from an ex fan).
As the time goes by more and more educated Pakistanis would turn against Taliban and would favor drone strikes. It is just a matter of time before even a common man would see the real face of these fanatic terrorists who only bully the minorities, women and children of Pakistan. Thanks a drone!
Thank you USA. We have no one to look toward except you to retaliate for Malala. Please keep sending these Ababeels until you have killed all the Taliban and Alqaeda off. Please do not listen to the anti-drone chatter of the small PTI crowd and do not stop. You are just doing a favor to Pakistan. We feel indebted.
@kilo tiger: "...Imran Khan and his team came back safely from the drone-fested area…"
When did Imran go anywhere near the drone-infested areas ? He was safely away, at least 200 km, never set a foot on Waziristan. Just to clarify for the gullible Pakistanis.
USA is doing a good job of cleaning waziristan from Militant. Government of Pakistan has no control over Waziristan. Every one in Waziristan is not Militant,but they are sympathetic to them. Any one who commit crime in Pakistan, high jack car or kidnap for money runs to Waziristan. Because government of Pakistan has no REIT in the area. Our popular Imran Khan is after cheap publicity. This not American War, It is the survival of Pakistan. Let USA do the clean up job for you. If Waziristanis really want peace no drones. They should hand over all the militants and foreign fighters to the authorities. And declare Waziristan as settled Provence. All the development will rush and it will be one of the best province of Pakistan. I hope they come out of Jahaliat and become a respectable citizen of Pakistan.God Bless Waziristan
Ik's soonami against the drone strike did get amreeka's attention alright...amreekans just got reminded/remembered that they hadn't had a drone strike in past couple of weeks and its time. Thanks IK for reminder.:) IK should get on the phone with "Angelina Jolie" and complain, she will listen. LOL!
Drones are best solution for Taliban!
@Mohturrum Shame on those who support illiterate brutal thug sick minded Taliban against a 14 year child...
@Caramelized_Onion
That's IK's mantra but your both missing the obvious - Pakistan govt has little (if any) control over these territories now so what's preventing the tribes from giving Taliban the boot? The "reclaim the land" mantra is nonsensical as the 90 wonder cure for corruption.
If one militant kills 40 civilians and 1 drone kills 5 militants then 200 inocent lives are saved. Tragic as if 20 civilians die also in the attack, still 180 lives are saved. Clateral damage is part of the War on terror. Let the drones come and wipe out these savages.
Terrorism of US continues
Either Ikran Khan like or not; drones will remain the national bird of Pakistan for in near future.
Thank God....Imran Khan and his team came back safely from the drone-fested area...well in time after making whatever point they wanted to make by going out there..
Taleban were right in attacking malala as she was western minded supporting western attacks .
@Paindoo: You guys "suspect." The guy piloting the drone is quite confident they are militants.
Government of Pakistan or all the political leaders have no credibility to stop the drones enterence into Pakistani territory because the countries of world are silent on it and United Nation has also become silent spactater on the tragic incidents happening after very short span of time.
There is no balances of power in the world after Russian withdrawl from Afghanistan .Russia devided into parts and weakened,there remained no hurdle in the way indicated Americans to stop crossing the limites with affressive designs and policies conftronted with International law.
There is only a one solution of this problem,unity in between the rigional power,China and Russia,with the support of the United Nations can convey warring to the agrressive power committing violation of global law.There after before violation American will compelled to think whether''DO OR DO NOT DO''
Well the answer from US should be : well you cant or you don't want to safe your citizens lives but we can and this is the way we do it. And now you go get yourselves ready for the next protest against drones.
Uncle Sam please locate the position of Ehasanullah ehsan and his TTP comrades in Swat and fire a drone! You will get a real applause and an encore as well
I am Still not supporting the drone attacks ,Still not supporting US war of terror.
Malala is a victim of this war of terror. so is the killed persons in the drone attacks.
down with the liberals and down with the extremists.
"suspected militant" +1
From now on,I'm a supporter of these drone attacks because they kill those beasts who shot my sister Malala..Keep killing these coward terrorists USA...Thanks You
If the drone did really kill militants then I am all for it. I and many others strongly disagree with Imran Khan after yesterday's attack in Saidu Sharif, we are all for drones that get rid of the TTP scum and other militants. We are against any attacks on cilivians anywhere in the region or the world.
american militants strikes another drone attack.
Now that's what u call a classic UNCLE SAM'S'I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IMRAN'
"Suspected militants."
Thankyou. Keep pounding them. This is what Talibans deserves.
The drones just got popular after the attack on a 14 year old girl. Get rid of Taliban!
Successful Rally against Drones ...someone gets upset; Malala hit(may God bless her)....someone is happy and fires Drones (now no one will protest)
Point being: Two wrongs don't make a right! WE need to protest against both form of terror: Militant Attacks and Drone attacks.
Pointing fingers at one won't help solve the problem. MQM/PPP needs to protest openly against drones; similiarly PMLN/PTI need to get more vocal against militant attacks!
even if the parties cant do it, we as its supporters should do it - instead of pointing fingers at eachother Think Pakistani Save Pakistan!
What are their names? What is their crime? Where is the warrant for killing?
That's for Malala Yousafzai. Good Job!
It is okay to come on streets against drones, but what is MORE needed is to come on streets against the evil-elements of the society that almost killed Malala; and may kill your near and dear ones if not controlled.
Well first things first the timing of drone strike is as good as it gets
Drones target not in Karachi only areas where Pakistan lost sovereignty
Where is Imran Khan and PTI ? Time for yet another peace drive.
Woo hoo this has made a nice mockery of PTI's and Imran Khan's so called peace march no wonder pak army stopped him from entering South Waziristan and this activity was an epic fail
Is it really that hard to agree on the problems we face: 1) TTP thugs, 2) Drone attacks. Neither one is good, and the people of Pakistan are the victims of both. It's not rocket science. Many more like Malala have already been killed by these drones.
On the issue of Imran Khan, his solution is: Let the tribals reclaim their land, they are almost a million in number and are armed. Taliban are a minority. The tribals need to be taken into confidence so they can drive out the Taliban.
What his policy doesn't say is that we negotiate with TTP.
Pakistan faces a multitude of problems today, let's not muddy the waters or blurr the lines between good and evil. Pakistanis are on one side, extremists, and drones are on the other.
So courteous of America for taking on Pakistan's war. Pakistan should pay bounty to US equivalent to the cost of every bomb dropped on eliminating these savages.