英语文摘:8 killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed Wednesday when a U.S. drone launched a missile strike in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of North Waziristan, local media reported.

According to the reports, the U.S. unmanned aircraft targeted a house and a vehicle by firing two missiles at each target in the Alora Mandi village of Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, Pakistan's northwestern restive tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

Identities of the killed have not been confirmed yet, but some reports said majority of them were foreigners.

Wednesday's attack is the eighth of its kind in the area since the start of this year. 70 people have been killed and many others injured.

The strike came at a time when Pakistan army is busy in operation against militants of the Pakistan Taliban and other groups in the North Waziristan.

Pakistan army launched the operation "Zarb-e-Azb" on June 15 after the terrorists of Pakistan Taliban stormed an airport in the country's southern port city of Karachi.

So far over 1,200 militants and 90 soldiers have been killed in the operation, while the army has also arrested 54 terrorists and claimed to have destroyed militants' command and control center.

Since launch of the operation, the U.S. also started drone strikes in the area, but Pakistan's foreign office said the drone strikes are not the part of the offensive. The U.S. didn't comment on it.