At least three persons were killed today in a US drone attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The drone struck at Miranshah, one of the main towns of North Waziristan. The identity of the three persons killed in the attack could not immediately be ascertained. The attack occurred as a major ground offensive launched by the Pakistan Army against the Taliban in South Waziristan entered its fifth day. Nearly 100 militants and over a dozen soldiers have died in the fighting so far.<br/><br/>Helicopter gunships and ground troops in Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region continued to attack militant strongholds for the fifth day today. Reports quoting intelligence officials say troops and artillery fire have been targeting militants in the hometown of the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud. With the region closed-off to outsiders, and no journalists embedded with Pakistani troops, there has been no independent confirmation of the army's or the Taliban's claims. Pakistani army commanders say some 30,000 troops are battling about 10,000 militants in South Waziristan. They say they expect the offensive to last six to eight weeks, before winter weather makes fighting difficult.<br/><br/>