ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A pair of missiles fired by a U.S. drone killed at least nine suspected militants near the Afghan border on Friday, Pakistani intelligence officials said.
Several insurgents were also wounded in the attack that destroyed a compound near Miran Shah, the main town of the North Waziristan tribal region, the two officials said.
The militants were believed to be fighters loyal to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a militant commander whose forces frequently target U.S. and NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. A similar drone attack on Sunday killed eight of Bahadur's fighters.
The U.S. drones often targets suspected Taliban and al-Qaida hideouts in the tribal regions of Pakistan's rugged northwest, but Friday's attack was the first since Islamabad reopened NATO supply lines to Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Pakistan closed the supply routes in November in retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Islamabad agreed to reopen its border to the coalition supplies after Washington apologized for the deaths of the Pakistani troops, a sign of improved relations between the two countries.
The drone attacks, however, remain a source of deep frustration and tension between the U.S. and Pakistan. Islamabad says they violate its sovereignty and also cause civilian casualties.
Washington has refused, and U.S. officials say the drone strikes are an effective tool in combating militants.
