Seven Killed in 'US airstrike' on Pakistan

A suspected US missile strike killed at least seven people in northwest Pakistan, witnesses said today.

Yar Mohammad, a villager, said a fortified house was destroyed and local Taliban pulled out seven bodies while cordoning off the scene.

He said he heard a drone aircraft circling the area before the attack this morning. Intelligence officials confirmed the strike.

The US has carried out a series of missile strikes in recent months in Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas, targeting al Qaida and Taliban militants blamed for attacks across the border in Afghanistan.

Pakistan has criticised the missile strikes as infringement of its sovereignty.

The attack happened about 10 miles south of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border.

The US has carried out more than 30 missile strikes since August on Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Most of the missiles are believed to have been launched from unmanned spy planes that take off from Afghanistan. Washington rarely confirms or denies the attacks.