MIRAMSHAH, March 16 Ten militants, three foreigners among them, were killed and a number of others injured when a US drone fired three missiles on a compound used by militants in North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday.

Two vehicles were destroyed in the attack in Mohammad Khel area of tehsil Datakhel, the hometown of Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur. Local people said that because of fears of more attacks they had started rescue work three hours later. Six pilotless planes continued to hover over the region after the strike. They said that 10 bodies had been retrieved from the vehicles.

AFP adds The dead included Al Qaeda-linked suspects, officials said. The exact identity of militants was unclear and it was not immediately known whether there were any high-value targets.

“At least 10 militants, mostly foreigners, were killed,” a security official said, adding that five missiles were fired by US drones. A local intelligence official described the target as a mountain hideout for militants. Arabs were said to be among the dead.