MIRAMSHAH, Oct 9: Two missiles fired by a suspected US drone hit a residential compound in Tapai area of North Waziristan on Thursday, killing at least nine people.

According to sources, three bodies had been taken out of debris.

Identity of the dead could not be ascertained, but it is learnt that some Arab nationals are among them. Local people said they saw columns of smoke rising from the area after the plane fired the missiles.

Officials said that the targeted place belonged to a tribesman, Sultan, in Pirano village, east of Miramshah. Meanwhile, tribesmen fired at suspected spy planes in different parts of North Waziristan on Thursday.

Witnesses said the tribesmen used AK-47 rifles and heavy machineguns and forced the planes to return to Afghanistan.