Two missiles fired by the unmanned aircraft hit a house in the village of Khushali Turikhel, 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Miranshah, security officials told AFP.

"The US drone fired two missiles which hit a house. At least three militants have been killed," a security official said.

The identities of those killed in the attack were not immediately clear but security officials said they were all Taliban militants.

A security official and a local intelligence official confirmed the attack and the number of casualties.

Another intelligence official in Miranshah said there were reports that foreigners were among the dead, adding that the death toll could rise.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011