Officials: Suspected US missile strike on Taliban base kills 3 militants in NW Pakistan

Officials: Missile strike kills 3 in NW Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — Two intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed three Taliban militants in restive northwestern Pakistan.

The officials say an unmanned U.S. drone targeted a Taliban compound in the South Waziristan tribal region Tuesday and killed the insurgents.

The missile attack occurred in Sararogha village, the base of former Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

The tribal areas are allegedly used as a base for attacks on American and NATO troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Western officials say the area is a stronghold of al-Qaida’s senior leadership and Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding there.