MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN - At least four militants were killed and five others wounded in a US drone missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said Thursday.

The attack took place in Shanakhora village of North Waziristan, an area where Washington says Islamist fighters are hiding out and planning attacks on Western troops stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan.

'It was a US drone attack which targeted a militant compound killing four militants and wounding five others,' a senior security official in the area told AFP.

He said two missiles were fired from a US drone.

Another security official confirmed the attack.