Drone Strike Kills Five Suspected Militants in Northwest Pakistan

Reuters says a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's northwestern Shawal Valley has killed at least five militant. The strike reportedly follows a build up of Pakistani forces in the area and another drone strike on Saturday. The valley runs across an area mostly under the control of the Pakistani military. The Pakistani government usually protests drone strikes, complaining they are a violation of sovereignty. The military launched an offensive in North Waziristan in June, but militants and intelligence sources say the Shawal Valley remains largely untouched by the operation.
Last week, residents and military sources said Pakistani forces were moving toward the valley from north and south. But the scale and progress of the operation is unclear.