At least five suspected terrorists were killed and several others injured when a United States drone targetted a compound in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan on Wednesday.
The Central Intelligence Agency-operated spy plane struck a compound at Spinwam in North Waziristan Agency, security officials were quoted as saying by the media.
The missiles started a fire in a house within the compound. The strike came a day after the White House defended the use of drones against Al Qaeda suspects as legal, ethical and wise and insisted that they complied with American law and the Constitution even if they targeted Americans.
North Waziristan has been described by US officials as a safe haven for Al Qaeda and Taliban elements. Pakistan opposes drone strikes, saying they are counter-productive and a violation of its sovereignty.