A US drone fired missiles at what was described by local officials as “the houses of a suspected Taliban militant” near Mir Ali, in North Waziristan Agency, killing six people and injuring an unknown number of others. A local intelligence official said Taliban cordoned off the attacked site, and suggested this could mean a high value target was among the casualties.

The strike is the first reported hit by US drones into Pakistani territory this month, and the latest in dozens of strikes across the border as part of what has been described as a deliberate escalation of attacks on militants in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Pakistan’s government has condemned the strikes publicly, but is reported to have privately reached a “tacit agreement” with the United States regarding them. Pakistan has also claimed it is considering shooting down the drones, but once again there is no indication that they made any effort to do so.

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