DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — A suspected U.S. missile strike inside Pakistan on a compound used by Taliban militants near the Afghan border killed up to 20 people early Monday, Pakistani officials said.

U.S. missile strikes into Pakistan’s border region have escalated sharply in recent months in the search for militants, despite protests from the Pakistani government.

Two Pakistani intelligence officers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media, said Monday’s strike occurred the South Waziristan region.

The targeted house was frequented by followers of a Taliban commander, but that the identity of the victims is not immediately clear, the officials said.

Meanwhile, Taliban fighters who tried unsuccessfully to kidnap a tribal militia leader beheaded one of the man’s rescuers in front of a crowd, then fought a running battle with tribesmen on Sunday that left as many as 30 people dead, police said.