At least five persons were killed on Sunday in a missile strike by a US drone in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region that is considered a stronghold of Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud. The spy plane fired a missile at several vehicles and local residents said five persons were killed in the strike, the first drone attack in Pakistan's tribal belt since mid-May. People also said they had seen drones hovering over South Waziristan since early morning.

The drone attack occurred in an area not far from Makeen village, a stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud that was targeted by Pakistani fighter jets on Saturday.

The Pakistan military said the air strikes were carried out in retaliation for two suicide bombings that killed an anti-Taliban scholar and several armed forces personnel. Pakistan has opposed the US drone attacks, saying they violate the country's sovereignty and undermine efforts to deal with militancy.