Six Hell Fire missiles fired at enemy in Pakistan

AP/NY Times:

Suspected U.S. unmanned aircraft fired six missiles at a vehicle in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border Sunday, killing six alleged militants, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The high number of missiles used in the attack in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan seemed to indicate an important militant was targeted. But the identities of those killed were as yet unknown, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Datta Khel is an important base for militants from the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban and also from al-Qaida. The U.S. has carried out many strikes in the area in the past, although Washington refuses to acknowledge the CIA-run drone program in Pakistan publicly.

A house was also partly destroyed in Sunday's attack, said the intelligence officials. It was unclear whether any of the six suspected militants who were killed were in the house at the time, or all in the vehicle.

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I suspect one or more Reaper drones were used in this attack.  It is possible that the house was attacked first and that the enemy tried to escape in a vehicle that was then hit by missiles.  Recent weeks have seen an increased tempo in drone strikes against the enemy in Pakistan.  I suspect this is happening because Pakistan has refused to attack these areas and has given the green light to the US to attack it with increased Hell Fire strikes.