Missiles kill four in Pakistan

Suspected US missiles targeted a vehicle today in north western Pakistan, killing four alleged militants, intelligence officials said.

It was the 17th such attack this month – the most intense barrage since the air strikes began in 2004.

Shortly before the attack, the vehicle left a militant hide-out in Datta Khel, a town in the North Waziristan tribal area that is controlled by insurgents focused on attacking Nato troops in Afghanistan, the two intelligence officials said.

It is not clear exactly why the attacks have spiked, but most of this month’s strikes have targeted forces led by Jalaluddin Haqqani, a commander who was once supported by Pakistan and the US during the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan.