Locals said three cows, apparently meant for sacrifice on the Muslim festival of Eidul Adha being celebrated in the tribal region on Friday, were also killed in the attack.
One missile hit a house in the Tappi area about 20 kilometres (12 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan tribal district which is a stronghold of Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants.
The other hit a vehicle parked outside, they said.
One security official in the northwestern city of Peshawar said the target was a militant compound and those killed were insurgents.
"It was a militant compound being used to store arms and ammunition," he said, requesting anonymity.
"Three militants were killed. The casualties were not high because there not many militants inside."
According to CNN, a woman was also among the killed, while three children were injured in the drone attack.
A government official said that militants lived in the compound but so did civilians.
Wednesday's strike was the third by unmanned US aircraft in the Miranshah area this month. On October 11, 18 insurgents, most reportedly Afghans, were killed in a drone strike in the nearby tribal region of Orakzai in the deadliest attack in more than a year.
The covert US attacks are unpopular in Pakistan, where the government slams them as a violation of sovereignty, but American officials believe they are a vital weapon against militants.
Earlier this month, cricket legend turned politician Imran Khan led thousands of supporters in a motorcade from the capital Islamabad to the edge of the tribal belt to protest against the US strikes.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Ali Syed: You have HIT the nail. Never thought that people would make fun of dead bodies as the comments suggested.
@Chrome: your own security official accepted that this place was used as storage for weapons.. these people have killed 40+k civilians and still people are asking proofs.. Either you clean it up or someone else will.. Also your courts have acquitted 90% of terrorists because of lack of proof.
If you are fine with your justice system then don't crib about anti-social elements in your society.
a woman was also killed??? no one bothers...a fake diary writer injured,,,the whole world shouts....in the patriarchal set up like that in the tribal belt of pakistan everyone knows that a woman cant be a militant...though female beinga suicide bomber has been reported..but woman as a militant in North Waziristan questions will be rises...but drones will continue......
I feel bad for the children that BHO maimed in this strike.
More cowardly acts of murder by drone "pilots" instructed by lawyers and their complicit military accomplices.
@Hairaan: Not in war it doesn't. Get that through your thick head along with the others who say that.
i don't care for taliban killed but those poor cows.......
"They were MILITANTS or SUSPECTED MILITANTS? Why the western philosophy of innocent until proved guilty does not apply here?"
It does not apply during a war. As far as the rest of the world is concerned, we are in a war aginst terrrorists. When in a war, you shoot first before they shoot at you. No time for taking them to courts.
"a woman was also among the killed, while three children were injured in the drone attack."
what was their fault? how these children were different from malala?
COW-LLATERAL DAMAGE !!!!
People are only okay with drones because they are see themselves as living in a separate reality. If drones start striking near their comfortable establishments in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad etc then we'll see if they still manage to have a sense of humor about it.
@Hairaan: My friend, cruel realities of life in dealing with world's lone superpower. Either don't have any dealing with them, no financial and military aid, or learn to deal with their ways. It is not a matter of logic, but a matter of choice.
@Jat: Typical and stereotype reply when people have no logical explanation to their disposal.
@Pragmatist: Why so much sympathy for cows since they were to be crucified any way but thanks to the drones for not meeting a painful death.
Why didnt the cows mooooooooooooove
My heart goes out to the innocent cows. Where is Imran Khan and PTI when you need them? After all, cows have rights too !!!
@Hairaan: "Why the western philosophy of innocent until proved guilty does not apply here?"
No it doesn't. Deal with it.
All militants and terrorists are innocent until proven killed.
Wait. Maybe they were no militants. Maybe they were just cattle herders. Oh well. I guess they will go to heaven then..
New US strategy: Kill em a few cows and no one will ask about the woman, three children and the identities of the suspects!
They were MILITANTS or SUSPECTED MILITANTS? Why the western philosophy of innocent until proved guilty does not apply here?
I wonder how they define civilians anyway. People living with ruthless beasts on their own free will CANNOT be civilians. Civilians need to stay away from militants and they will not become 'collateral damage' by drones. Drones are very targeted and have a tiny footprint.
Please call the US ambassador to the Foreign Office and ask him to be careful with the cows.
Dear politically correct people who think everyone is laughing at the lives lost
they are actually laughing at the ingenious headline and the eminence of the situation that AFP tried to highlight in the news piece. Please remain calm.
What? Is this a joke? The people commenting here are making fun of lives lost. Shame on you.
An Insafian.
Interesting to see all ppl who commented had concerns about the cows rather than loss of lives.
After reading the comments i feel that a drone strike is now a joke for all of us . 3 kids injured and a may be a woman dead and all we care is 3 COWS ...... I have a soft corner for drones killing those terrorist but lets not make a joke out of those innocents who are injured/killed in these drones
PTI preparing for another PeaceMarch! Ayy gaieen teray liyay ;)
Three innocent cows roasted in advance with three hyenas :(
May be cows were being smuggled to Afghanistan.. thanks drones for complying with the Peshawar High Court orders for curbing cattle smuggling to Afghanistan...
So wait... In the headline you mention the three militants and the three cows but fail to mention the non-militant woman?... right ok.
Collateral damage.This calls for another march.
I thought cows were secular
Poor cows! Anyway I guess there is always some collateral damage.
Good riddance to the terrorists but what were Firdous Ashiq Awan, Veena and Meera doing near Miranshah?
GODDAMN YOU US.. THOSE COWS WERE CIVILIAN.
Cows killed. Call the Guinness People. Another record
Why did the Americans have to kills three cows?
Militant to Militant ... Militant kee cow bhee Militant !!