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Drones kill suspected militants in Pakistan

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Officials: Two drone attacks occur within 30 minutes of each other in North Waziristan
  • Drone attacks among three within 24 hours, officials say
  • Twenty drone strike have occurred in Pakistan's tribal region, according to CNN count
RELATED TOPICS
  • Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Back-to-back drone strikes in Pakistan's northwest tribal region on Wednesday morning killed five suspected militants, officials said.

The first attack drones fired five missiles at two vehicles in Hamzoni, a village eight miles (15 km) west of Miran Shah in North Waziristan, a local government official and an intelligence official said. Three suspected militants were killed and three others were injured.

About 30 minutes later, a second drone fired at least two missiles at a vehicle in Datakhel, another village in North Waziristan, the officials said. Two suspected militants were killed.

The officials requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media.

Wednesday's drone attacks were among three within 24 hours, they said.

North Waziristan is one of seven districts in Pakistan's tribal region along the Afghan border.

The United States is the only country in the region known to have the ability to launch missiles from drones, which are controlled remotely.

U.S. officials normally do not comment on drone strikes, which have caused tension between Pakistan and the United States in the past.

There have been 20 drone strikes this year in Pakistan's tribal region, according to a CNN count. All the strikes have targeted locations in North Waziristan or its border area with South Waziristan.

Journalists Nasir Dawar and Nasir Habib contributed to this report.