US drone attack kills four in Pakistan

A US drone strike has killed at least four militants and wounded several others in the troubled northwestern tribal belt in Pakistan.

According to Pakistani security officials, the drone fired two missiles at a vehicle in the North Waziristan region on Sunday.

“It was a US drone attack. Four militants were killed. The vehicle was hit by two missiles,” a regional security official said.

The US frequently carries out such attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas. Attacks by unmanned American planes have left dozens of people dead in the volatile region over the past weeks.

The aerial attacks, initiated by former US President George W. Bush, have been escalated under President Barack Obama.

The New York Times recently ran a report, saying the US government has ordered the CIA to step up air attacks in Pakistan.

Washington claims the strikes target militants, but civilians often bear the brunt of the attacks. Islamabad has frequently slammed the US over the drone strikes, saying they violate its sovereignty.