US drone attack kills 8 in Pakistan

A US drone strike in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal areas has killed at least eight people amid growing public discontent over the increasing number of civilian casualties.

According to local officials, several others were also injured after an unmanned plane fired missiles on a vehicle in the South Waziristan Agency on Tuesday.

Local residents reported that unmanned planes were still hovering in the area.

The raids, initiated by former US President George W. Bush and continuing under President Barack Obama, have drastically increased in recent weeks amid the flood tragedy that has affected most of the south Asian country.

Washington claims the airstrikes target militants. However, according to statistics, the attacks have killed hundreds of civilians in Pakistan since 2008.

Islamabad has repeatedly condemned the strikes, saying they violate the country’s sovereignty.

Earlier on Monday, a retired Pakistani Army general told Press TV that the relentless US attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas are in violation of the country’s ‘territorial integrity.’

“Our people do not like the presence of the United States in our country and they do not like these drone attacks,” retired Pakistani Army General Zakir Ali Zaidi said.