US drone strike kills 4 in NW Pakistan
A US Predator drone firing a Hellfire missile (file photo)
At least four people have been killed in a US assassination drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border, security officials say.
In the attack, which occurred late on Tuesday night, two missiles hit a private compound just outside Miranshah in the North Waziristan region. Local residents have reported that the airsrike sparked a huge fire in the building.
US assassination drone operations were halted in November 2011 after NATO airstrikes on two Pakistani military border checkpoints in Mohmand agency killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
The airstrikes sparked angry protests across the country. Pakistan's military issued new directives and warned the Pentagon that it would shoot down drones if they violate Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan also closed the border crossings that were used to transport supplies to US-led forces in Afghanistan and ordered all US personnel to vacate a remote airfield in Balochistan province.
MN/HGL
