Five militants killed in US drone strike in Pakistan

At least five militants were killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region Wednesday, the media said.

The US drone fired two missiles at a compound in Dattakhel area of restive North Waziristan, killing five militants and injuring two others, Dawn online reported.

It is believed that most of those killed were foreign fighters.

This is the fourth such drone strike since the Pakistani military launched Operation "Zarb-i-Azb" in the militancy-affected Waziristan region to destroy bases of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups.

The semi-autonomous tribal area on the Afghanistan border has been a hideout for several militant groups -- including Al Qaeda and the TTP as well as foreign fighters such as Uzbeks and Uighurs, the dawn report said.

About 20 militants were killed in Dattakhel area when a drone struck a militant hideout July 16.

On July 10, a US drone killed six people, later identified as Al Qaeda leaders, in North Waziristan.

The Pakistan government has repeatedly condemned the US drone strikes, saying these are counter-productive and unacceptable as these violated the country's sovereignty.

US drones have targeted militants in Pakistan since 2004.