MIRAMSHAH, July 17 Two missiles fired by a US drone killed five suspected militants and injured four others in the village of Shamzai in North Waziristan on Friday.

According to sources, the missiles hit the compound of local tribesman Abdul Majeed, who reportedly belongs to the Taliban group of Baitullah Mehsud. The village, about 65km south of Miramshah, is adjacent to South Waziristan. Majeed was not in the house at the time of the attack.

The sources said that the place was being used by militants.

Agencies add Local government official Anayat Ullah confirmed a missile had hit the village, while resident Ahmad Raza said he heard the Taliban in the area saying five of their comrades were dead.

“According to initial reports four militants have been killed in the attack on a house,” an intelligence official said.

Another official said five militants had been killed.

The identity of the dead was not immediately known, nor was it clear whether any high-value target was present in the area at the time of the attack, security officials said.

It was the fourth drone strike in nine days, mostly targeting strongholds of Baitullah Mehsud. The United States has carried out about 48 drone air strikes since the beginning of last year, most since September, killing about 465 people, including several foreign militants, according to a tally of reports from Pakistani intelligence agencies and district government officials.