U.S. Drone Kills Six Militants In Pakistan

Pakistani officials say a U.S. drone strike has killed six suspected Islamist militants in the North Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border.

An intelligence official told reporters that the unmanned aerial vehicle fired missiles on a compound and a car in the Dattakhel area.

The drone strike came a day after the Pakistani military said it had recaptured some 80 percent of the key town of Miranshah and surrounding areas from rebels amid a military operation aimed at clearing North Waziristan of Taliban insurgents.

The town of Miranshah is one of the strongholds of Islamist militants linked to Al-Qaeda.

The Pakistani military's ground operation, which was announced in mid-June, includes aerial bombing and ground assaults.

RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal reports some 572,000 residents of North Waziristan have been displaced by the fighting.

Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters