US. drones killed six militants Wednesday in Pakistan’s tribal region where the country’s army was engaged in a ground offensive against groups linked with al-Qaeda, officials said.
Unmanned aircraft fired missiles targeting two militant hideouts in the Darga Mandi area of the North Waziristan tribal district near the Afghan border, security officials said.
“At least six militants were killed in both attacks,” the official said, requesting anonymity. “Their identities are not known yet.” It was for the first time drones have targeted militants since Pakistan announced the launch of a “comprehensive” military operation against all local and foreign groups based in North Waziristan.
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The CIA-operated drone campaign resumed in Pakistan last week after a halt of nearly six months as efforts by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to engage Islamist militants in a peace process failed.
Sixteen militants including Uzbek nationals and fighters from the Afghan Taliban’s Haqqani network were killed in a double strike last week.
The Pakistani military said on Tuesday that troops surrounding militants’ hideouts had advanced into the region that is known as an al-Qaeda’s stronghold.
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More than 200 militants have so far been killed in four days of the offensive, according to the military.