DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A recent US missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region killed three Egyptians linked to the Haqqani network, including one who played a key role in handling the militant group's finances, Pakistani intelligence officials said Sunday.

The three men were killed Friday when a drone fired missiles at a car near Miramshah, the main town in North Waziristan, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. A fourth person was also killed but has not been identified.

US intelligence believes the Haqqanis are the top threat to security in Afghanistan.

One of the Egyptians killed Friday was a 28-year-old man named Abdullah who helped handle the Haqqani network's finances in Pakistan and Afghanistan, said the intelligence officials. He was known locally as Nadeem.

On Thursday, a missile attack close to Miramshah killed Janbaz Zadran, who US officials said was a top commander in the network who helped orchestrate attacks in Kabul and southeastern Afghanistan. They said he was the most senior Haqqani leader in Pakistan to be taken off the battlefield.