Shock and awe in North Waziristan

US missiles kill 5 militants in northwest Pakistan in fourth hit in less than week

By Associated Press, Published: May 27 | Updated: Monday, May 28, 2:08 AM

PESHAWAR Pakistan — American missiles killed five suspected Islamist militants close to the Afghan border, the latest in a barrage of attacks that show Washington is ignoring Islamabad’s demands it halt the strikes, Pakistani officials said Monday.

The uptick comes amid fractured relations between Pakistan and the United States over Islamabad’s refusal to reopen U.S and NATO supply lines to neighboring Afghanistan that have been blocked since November. It indicates Washington’s resolve to press ahead with the attacks, which have taken out many al-Qaida leaders close to the border since 2007.

Five missiles hit a vehicle and a house in Makeene Kili village close to the town of Mir Ali late Sunday, the officials said. The identities were not known, but the region is home to al-Qaida militants and insurgents fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to give their names to the media.

The attack late Sunday in North Waziristan was the fourth in less than a week.

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