US drone strike kills eight in Pakistan

A US drone attack has killed at least eight people and wounded a dozen more in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal belt, amid growing public rage over such assaults.

Pakistani security officials say the strike targeted a compound in the Data Khel district of North Waziristan on Saturday.

Three US-led strikes have killed at least 18 people over the past 24 hours in the volatile tribal region near the Afghan border.

The attacks come as Pakistan struggles with its worst natural disaster.

US drone attacks have killed some 1,000 Pakistanis over the past two years.

Pakistani officials say most of the victims have been civilians despite Washington’s claims that the air raids target militants.

Pakistan has repeatedly condemned the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.

The issue of civilian casualties has strained relations between Islamabad and Washington.