US Drone Attack in Pakistan Leaves at Least Five Dead

A US drone attack left at least five people dead in Pakistan’s tribal area, controlled by al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

MOSCOW, January 18 (Sputnik) – At least five people were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s restive North Waziristan region, AFP reports, citing security officials.

"A US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Shahi Khel neighbourhood of Shawal, killing five terrorists," a senior security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the news agency. The information was confirmed by another anonymous security official but could not be independently verified.

Last week, at least five people were killed in a similar US drone attack in northern Pakistan, according to Reuters. The assault was aimed at a compound in the Tehsil Ladha area of South Waziristan.

In June 2014, the Pakistani army launched a major offensive in the tribal areas, mostly controlled by al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The authorities stepped up their counterterrorism efforts in mid-December after a brutal assault on a school in Peshawar left over 140 people, mostly children, dead.

According to the Pakistani military, more than 1,800 terrorists have been killed during the campaign, AFP reported.