ISLAMABAD - The death toll has risen to 22 in a suspected U.S. missile strike in northwestern Pakistan.
The strike late Thursday was the latest in about three dozen suspected U.S. attacks in areas of Pakistan close to the Afghan border since last year.
The latest strike took place in Barjo, in Kurram agency, according to witness Ismail Khan and a government official.
Pakistani intelligence officials say the target was a house used by a local Taliban commander as a training facility.
Militants were still searching for bodies Friday as intelligence officials put the death toll at 22, including several foreign insurgents.
The missiles are believed to have been fired from unmanned drones launched from neighbouring Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government publicly protests the raids as violations of its sovereignty and says the anger generated by them undercuts its efforts to battle extremism. Still, top civilian and military officials are widely believed to have a deal with Washington allowing them.
American officials say they have killed scores of militants, including ranking members of al-Qaida, the group blamed for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
The United States is pressing Pakistan to do more in the border region, which insurgents use to plan and stage attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The remote, lawless area is believed to be a likely hiding place for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
