A US drone attack targeting a militant compound killed four insurgents in a troubled Pakistani tribal region early Thursday, security officials said.

Two missiles hit the compound located in Miranshah, the main town in volatile North Waziristan near the Afghan border, a security official said.

"A US drone fired two missiles at a compound used by militants in Miranshah and four militants have been killed," the official said.

The strike and death toll were confirmed by intelligence sources.

It followed a drone strike on Wednesday on a compound in Tappi, 10 kilometres (six miles) southeast of Miranshah, which security officials said killed 10 insurgents.