Four people were killed early on Friday as a US drone launched a missile attack in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border.

Four people were killed early on Friday as a US drone launched a missile attack in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region near the Afghan border.

"Two missiles hit a house and four militants were killed," a security official told Agence France Press. "The attack took place at about 3:00 am," he said.

The missiles targeted a house in a market area of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, known as a stronghold of Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants, security officials said.

Witnesses said the attack triggered a fire which destroyed the building. The compound is located in the money changers market in the Miranshah commercial district.

An intelligence official also put the toll at four dead and said two people were wounded. He said local people were engaged in rescue work.