7 killed in US drone attack in northwest Pakistan

Seven suspected militants were killed and five others injured today when a US drone targeted a compound in the restive Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan. The CIA-operated spy plane fired two missiles at the compound in Babar Ghar village located along the boundary between North and South Waziristan. The compound was destroyed and seven suspected militants were killed, security officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels. State-run Radio Pakistan reported four persons were killed in the drone strike. The region where the strike was carried out is a stronghold of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements. Reports said local residents had seen six drones hovering over the area. On Wednesday, five suspected militants were killed and several others injured when a drone targeted a compound in the lawless North Waziristan. Earlier this week, the White House defended the use of drones against Al Qaeda suspects as legal, ethical and wise, and insisted that such attacks complied with US law and the Constitution even if they targeted Americans. Pakistan opposes drone strikes, saying they are counter-productive and a violation of its sovereignty.