According to officials, a meeting was under way in the basement of a compound when the US drone fired two missiles into it at 10am. - File Photo.

MIRAMSHAH Sixteen suspected militants, including an Al Qaeda leader, were killed and 10 injured in a drone attack in Enzer Kali area of North Waziristan on Saturday, sources said.

According to officials, a meeting was under way in the basement of a compound when the US drone fired two missiles into it at 10am.

Identities of the dead could not be ascertained, but according to sources, Al Qaeda leader Abu Ahmed Tarkash was among them.

Locals said most of the dead belonged to Mehsud tribe, but according to an official source some foreigners were also among the dead.

Local people were not allowed to take part in the operation to retrieve the bodies and the injured from the debris.

They, however, said 16 bodies and 10 injured had been pulled out of the debris. Four planes were hovering over the area at the time of the attack.

AFP adds

Security officials confirmed the strike, saying that the compound was being used by “Al Qaeda operatives”.