DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Intelligence officials in Pakistan say a US drone strike has killed four suspected militants in a northwestern tribal region along the Afghan border.

The two officials and three local Taliban fighters say the strike Sunday killed two Arab militants and two of their local allies in a compound in the town of Wana in South Waziristan.

All the officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to journalists. Authorities don't allow journalists into Pakistan's tribal areas, which have long been a safe haven for militants.

Pakistan's army largely cleared militants from South Waziristan in a 2009 operation. Soldiers now are fighting militants in North Waziristan in an operation that began in June.

Also read: Drone strike in North Waziristan kills at least eight

US drone strikes are widely unpopular among many in Pakistan.

Earlier on September 24, at least eight people were killed and several others had been injured in a US drone strike in the Dattakhel tehsil of North Waziristan Agency.

Intelligence sources said that the US drone had fired four missiles and completely destroyed a compound and a vehicle in the Alwara Mandi area of Dattakhel, about 60 kilometres from the main town of Miramshah.

There were varying reports as to the exact number of people killed in the drone strike.