Islamabad, October 16 (RHC)-- The United States has stepped up its drone attacks on Pakistan's tribal areas over the past few days in a move which is expected to cause a new wave of anti-American sentiment in the country, Press TV reports.

Over the past week Washington has reportedly carried out at least seven strikes in Pakistan's volatile tribal areas, leaving nearly 30 people dead. The U.S. claims the targets of the drone attacks are militants, but local officials and witnesses maintain that civilians have been the main victims of the assaults over the past few years.

The deadly drone campaign is highly unpopular in Pakistan and is regarded as the main reason behind the growing anti-American sentiments across the country. Pakistanis have held numerous rallies to protest against US assassination drone attacks in the nation's northwestern tribal belt.

Meanwhile, some political analysts believe that the drone strikes might be conducted in coordination with the Pakistani army, which has launched an offensive against pro-Taliban militants in northwestern tribal areas since June.

The United Nations and several human rights organizations have identified the U.S. as the world's number one user of "targeted killings," largely due to its drone attacks in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan.