WANA: Suspected US drones hit two militant targets in South Waziristan on Wednesday, killing 38 militants.

(According to AP news agency, 45 militants were killed in the two missile attacks on Taliban targets.)

In the first strike, the drones fired six missiles in Laddha subdivision of South Waziristan, killing eight militants in a training camp. Three Punjabi Taliban were among those killed. Five militants were injured.

This was the second drone attack in two days and fourth since June 23. The remote-controlled aircraft hovered continuously over various areas in South Waziristan and the adjacent North Waziristan agency.

Security officials said the training camp run by Baitullah Mehsud’s men was located in Karwan Manza area of Laddha, about 10 kilometres southeast of a scouts fort.

Sources said that four to six missiles had hit the compound. They said that militants usually gathered there at night.

Another compound used by militants in the same region was attacked on Tuesday and 16 militants were killed.

In the second attack on Wednesday, drones fired five missiles in an area in the same subdivision, destroying five vehicles and killing 30 militants.

The sources said that militants of the Baitullah Mehsud group were going from Laddha to Srarogha when their vehicles came under attack near the Jannata area.

According to the sources, three vehicles were carrying local militants and two their accomplices from Punjab.

South Waziristan is the stronghold of Mehsud and his followers, whom the government blames for more than 90 per cent of the suicide bombings in Pakistan in recent years. The US State Department says Mehsud is a key Al Qaeda facilitator in the region.