REUTERS (UK), DAWN (Pakistan), AFP (France)
A US drone aircraft killed at least 12 people in Pakistan's North Waziristan region on Friday.
Reuters reported that the attacks targeted three walled compounds, which are suspected to be militant hideouts used by insurgents crossing the nearby border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported the identities of the deceased were not immediately clear. Officials told reporters they expect the death toll to rise.
The tribal regions of North Waziristan are allegedly controlled by a Taliban faction, led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur.
Friday's attack was the fourth in the span of one week, despite continuing protests by Pakistani officials.
Drone strikes making us safer? Killing only militants? Or causing resentment and creating terrorists?
— Electoral Reform (@reformcoalition) August 24, 2012#p2#tlot#tcot reuters.com/article/2012/0…
Pakistan's Foreign Minister summoned a senior US diplomat on Thursday, to protest against the American drones, which killed a further 15 people earlier in the week, reported AFP.
A ministry statement read: "the drone strikes were unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty."
Drone strike a day after Pak handed a US diplomat a demarche only suggests that yest foreign office praised the diplomat and did not protest
— Saroor Ijaz (@SaroorIjaz) August 24, 2012
