PESHAWAR: Six suspected foreign militants were killed in a US drone strike in Dawa Toi area of North Waziristan on Tuesday afternoon.

According a security official, the drone fired two missiles at a compound which also hit an explosives-laden vehicle, killing four Uzbeks and two Arabs.

Dawa Toi is a forested valley near the Afghan border, about 45km west of the regional headquarters of Miramshah.

“The valley is infested with local and foreign militants,” the official said, adding that most of the militants who fled the military operation in Miramshah and other places were now hiding in the valley.

This was the 14th drone strike since January this year and 10th since the army launched the operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan in June. Most of the strikes were carried out in Dattakhel area.

CONDEMNATION: Pakistan condemned the US drone attack in Dawa Toi and said it was a violation of its sovereignty, according to APP.

In a statement issued in Islamabad, a Foreign Office spokesperson said Pakistan considered such strikes a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially at a time when the authorities were taking a decisive action against terrorist elements in North Waziristan.

The spokesperson demanded cessation of such strikes.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014