MIRAMSHAH, Jan 11: After a lull of about two months a CIA-operated drone carried out a missile attack in North Waziristan late on Tuesday night, killing four suspected militants.

Sources said two low-intensity explosions occurred at around 1.30am, adding that three of the killed men were foreign nationals.

Local people said the target of the attack was a compound in Kherwana village on the outskirts of Miramshah, which caught fire after the assault.

They said the three-room compound belonged to one Alam Noor, who had rented it out to some unidentified people.

Intelligence sources confirmed three foreigners were killed in the missile strike. However, their names were not given.

Witnesses said bodies were charred beyond recognition.

US drones suspended attacks in tribal areas after a Nato air strike killed at least 24 Pakistani soldiers in Mohmand Agency on Nov 26 last year.

In protest, Pakistan blocked routes used for transporting Nato supplies to Afghanistan and warned that the unilateral action would not be tolerated in future.

On Nov 17, drones carried out the last attack in Razmak area of North Waziristan in which eight suspected militants were killed.