Explosion Kills 15 Islamists in Pakistan

US Drone Attack in Pakistan Kills 15

Pakistan officials say the death toll in a U.S. drone attack in the country's northwestern tribal belt Monday has risen to at least 15 militants.

Officials say six missiles struck two vehicles in the North Waziristan region along the Afghan border.

Authorities say the strike took place in the Mir Ali district where militants are heavily concentrated.

The U.S. does not confirm drone attacks, but its forces operating in Afghanistan are the only forces that deploy the unmanned aircraft in the region.

Elsewhere in northwestern Pakistan, the World Food Program has suspended distribution of food in a tribal region where a suicide bomber killed at least 45 people, including children, near a WFP center.

The U.N. agency's global media coordinator, Greg Barrow, told VOA Sunday the agency temporarily stopped all operations in the Bajaur district for security reasons.

A female suicide bomber threw a hand grenade outside the distribution center in the town of Khar Saturday before blowing herself up in a crowd of people waiting for food aid.

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the bombing.