Missiles fired by a suspected US drone aircraft have killed at least three militants in north-west Pakistan, security officials said. They said that the attack targeted a militant compound in the North Waziristan tribal area, close to the Afghan border.
North and South Waziristan are known sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants.
There have been about over a dozen such strikes this year alone.
The US has stepped up drone attacks in north-west Pakistan since a suicide bomber killed seven CIA agents across the border in Afghanistan last month.
More than 700 people have died in nearly 80 drone strikes since August 2008.
A surge in such strikes has been ordered by US President Barack Obama.
Pakistan has publicly criticised drone attacks, saying they fuel support for militants, but observers say the authorities privately condone the strikes.
The American military does not routinely confirm drone operations, but analysts say the US is the only force capable of deploying such aircraft in the region.