Pakistani officials say U.S. missile strikes have killed at least 18 suspected militants in the northwestern tribal region since Thursday. Security officials say two drone strikes on Friday killed at least 15 alleged militants in attacks targeting militant compounds near the town of Miran Shah in North Waziristan. Officials said foreigners were among those killed.
On Thursday, officials said a similar strike killed three other militants near the town of Miran Shah in North Waziristan.
U.S. President Barack Obama has increased the use of the unmanned aircraft to target al-Qaida and Taliban hideouts in the tribal belt along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. There have been more than 35 suspected missile strikes this year alone, the highest rate since the attacks began in earnest in 2008.
Pakistan's government has objected to the use of drones, saying they violate its sovereignty and sometimes kill innocent civilians. U.S. offcials do not confirm the use of drones, which are operated by the Central Intelligence Agency.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
