At least 6 militants, including foreigners, were killed and 3 others injured on Tuesday in a United States drone attack in Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal region.

CIA operated drone fired two missiles at a vehicle believed to be of the militants, killing 6 of them in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan on Tuesday evening.

Some foreign militants were also among the dead and the injured.

The region has long been used as shelter by the Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants and has frequently been targeted by US drones.

The Pakistani military launched a major offensive in North Waziristan in June and say they have killed more than 1,000 militants so far, with 86 soldiers losing their lives in the operation.

For almost a decade, American drone strikes in Pakistan's tribal belt have been deeply unpopular with the public.

Pakistani officials have publicly condemned the drone strikes, saying they violate sovereignty.

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