MIRAMSHAH: A barrage of US missiles killed at least five militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal district on Friday, destroying a vehicle used by Islamist fighters, security officials said.

Pakistani security officials reported the strikes in what is reputedly the country's most impregnable Taliban and al Qaeda fortress where US officials want Pakistan to launch a ground offensive to eliminate the militant threat.

They said strikes killed five militants in Ghar Laley village, 35 kilometres west of Miramshah, the main town in North Waziristan.

“US drones fired four missiles, targeting a vehicle and a house,” a local security official said.

“So far five bodies have been recovered,” he said. “Taliban have surrounded the area and there are fears the final toll may go up,” he said.