PESHAWAR: Four suspected militants, a local leader among them, were killed in a US drone strike in Shawal area of North Waziristan Agency on Saturday.

Sources said that two missiles fired by a US drone hit a vehicle in Shawal tehsil, killing four militants. The vehicle caught fire in the attack, they said.

The deceased included a local leader of militants who was identified as Mohammad Mustafa.

Local people said that after the attack drones continued to fly over Shawal, Dattakhel and Miramshah tehsils of North Waziristan.

AFP adds: A senior official said the drone strike took place around sunset while another official said that those killed included local and foreign militants.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2014