5 militants killed in US drone strike in Pakistan

US spy planes targeted a vehicle near the Afghan border in Pakistan's troubled tribal region, killing five suspected militants and injuring three others, officials said today.

The drones fired three missiles at a vehicle passing by a house in Paikhel area of Datta Khel sub-division, 45 km southwest of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency.

The house was damaged in the attack carried out late last night. The exact identities of the dead militants were not known.

The US has significantly stepped up drone attacks in North Waziristan Agency, carrying 13 drone strikes this month, killing over 70 militants in the region described by Washington as the global headquarters of al-Qaeda and a stronghold of Haqqani network.

The Haqqani network dominates the area where most of the drone strikes have occurred this month.