US drone kills 6 militants in Pakistan

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan — At least six militants in a remote Pakistani town near the Afghan border were killed today by a drone as local people celebrated the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr, security officials said.

AFP reported the two missiles hit a suspected militant hideout where allies of a powerful warlord were gathered, killing his supporters, Pakistani officials said.

The area is considered a stronghold of Taliban and Al Qaeda linked militants.

"US drones fired two missiles into a militant compound. Six bodies have been recovered from the compound so far," a security official told AFP.

According to CNN, the attack was the 28th US drone strike in Pakistan this year. 

USA Today reported Pakistan's foreign ministry condemned the attack.

"Pakistan has consistently maintained that these attacks are a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law," the ministry said in a statement.

The US maintains the targeted strikes are directed against militants and are designed to combat groups like Al Qaeda.