Thaindian News

MIRANSHAH (BNO NEWS) — At least five suspected militants were killed on Friday after a series of U.S. missile strikes in the tribal region of northeastern Pakistan, Ary News television reported.

One of the missiles struck a vehicle and destroyed it in the North Waziristan tribal district of Pakistan, while three others struck a house used by suspected Taliban militants. Ary News reported that at least five suspected militants died after the attacks, which happened in the Dattakhel village, 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of Miranshah.

The report said Taliban insurgents had surrounded the area and were recovering the bodies from the debris left by the four U.S. missiles. The northern area with Pakistan, near the Afghan border, is home for a large contingent of Taliban militants.

The United States is most active in 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.

The U.S. drone campaign in Pakistan is aimed at disrupting al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the border area with Afghanistan, which the United States considers to be the most dangerous place on Earth.

So far this year, the United States has carried out at least five drone attacks inside Pakistani territory. In 2010, officials reported at least 122 U.S. drone attacks, which was more than double than registered in 2009.