PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: At least eight people were killed and several others injured in a US drone strike in the Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan Agency, security sources said Wednesday.

Intelligence sources said that the US drone fired four missiles and completely destroyed a compound and a vehicle in the Alwara Mandi area of Dattakhel, about 60 kilometres from the main town of Miramshah.

There were varying reports as to the exact number of people killed in the drone strike.

“There are two Uzbeks among the dead militants identified so far,” news agency AFP quoted a senior security official. He said the vehicle was near the compound when missiles hit it around 3:30 am.

AFP put the death toll at eight, while AP said as many as 10 suspected militants were killed in the drone strike.

The area is off-limits to journalists, making it impossible to verify the exact number and identity the dead independently.

A military operation Zarb-i-Azb is also in progress by the Pakistan Army in the area.

More than 1,000 militants and 86 soldiers have been killed in the assault so far, according to the military.

The operation was initiated on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

Pakistan condemns Dattakhel drone strike

While strongly condemning the US strike in Dattakhel, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has said, “with the decisive action being taken against terrorist elements in North Waziristan, there is no need for such strikes.”

“We, therefore, urge US for a cessation of such strikes,” FO spokesperson said in a statement issued is Islamabad.

The spokesperson said Pakistan regards such strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.