PESHAWAR: At least eight suspected militants were killed in a drone strike in Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan tribal region early Saturday.

Intelligence sources said that around 3am, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) fired two missiles on a compound in Doga Madakhel village of Dattakhel tehsil, around 36 kilometres west of North Waziristan's capital Miramshah.

The strike left at least eight militants dead, including some high value target, they said.

According to local sources, the militants killed belonged to the Punjabi Taliban faction of the Pakistani Taliban as the compound hit by the missiles belonged to Punjabi Taliban.

The identity of those killed, however, could not yet be ascertained.

18 suspected militants killed in North Waziristan drone attack

This is the third such drone strike since the Pakistani military launched Operation Zarb-i-Azb in the militancy-infested lawless region to wipe out longstanding bases of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups.

The semi-autonomous tribal area on the Afghan border has for years been a hideout for several militant groups – including Al-Qaeda and the TTP as well as foreign fighters such as Uzbeks and Uighurs.

66pc Pakistanis opposed to drone strikes: survey

At least 18 militants were killed in a drone strike two days ago, which destroyed a compound and a vehicle.

Pakistan routinely protests against US drone strikes, which have been targeting militants in the tribal areas since 2004, saying they are a violation of sovereignty and counterproductive in the fight against terror.

Military officials have also strongly denied suggestions that there has been collusion with the US on drone strikes.