PESHAWAR: At least nine suspected militants were killed in a US drone strike in the remote Shawal Valley in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region on Saturday.

According to sources, the drones targeted a house in Shawal's Zoya Saidgai area, which is said to be a hideout of the Afghan Taliban.

The drones fired two missiles, killing at least nine militants, sources said, adding that all killed in the incident were associated with the Afghan Taliban.

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The area is generally off-limits to journalists, making it difficult to independently verify the number and identity of the dead.

North Waziristan is among Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border which are rife with insurgents and have been strongholds of Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, among others.

Military in June last year launched an all-out operation named 'Zarb-i-Azb' against Taliban militants in the region, following which parts of the tribal agency was declared cleared of militants.