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Suspected U.S. drones kill 14 militants

By the CNN Wire Staff
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • At least 14 militants were killed and several others injured in suspected U.S. drone attacks
  • 5 drones fired 18 missiles at two vehicles and several compounds in Pakistan's tribal region
  • Targets believed to be used by militants in the Data Khel area in North Waziristan
  • On Monday 9 Pakistani soldiers and 37 militants were killed in battle in Orakzai Agency
RELATED TOPICS
  • Waziristan
  • Afghanistan
  • Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- At least 14 militants were killed and several others injured Tuesday when five suspected U.S. drones fired missiles in Pakistan's tribal region, officials said.

The suspected drones fired 18 missiles at two vehicles and several compounds, according to officials.

Targets pounded are believed to be used by militants in the Data Khel area in North Waziristan, one of seven districts bordering Afghanistan.

Officials said the missiles were fired about 10 to 15 minutes apart.

The local administration official and an intelligence official asked not to be named because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.S. military routinely offers no comment on reported drone attacks. However, it is the only country operating in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

In other violence in Pakistan's tribal region along the Afghan border, nine Pakistani soldiers and 37 militants were killed Monday during a fierce battle, officials told CNN.

Two military officials said security forces took on more than 100 militants after the security forces were ambushed by rockets and heavy firearms in Daburi, a village in Orakzai Agency, one of the seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region.

Officials said a dozen militants and five soldiers were wounded in the clash.

The Pakistani military launched operations in Orakzai beginning in mid-March to root out militants who had taken refuge there after an offensive in South Waziristan.

The officials asked to not be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the news media.

Journalist Nasir Dawar and Nasir Habib contributed to this report.