A US drone strike targeting a militant compound Monday killed three militants in a troubled Pakistan tribal region near the Afghan border, officials said.

The attack took place in the Boya area of North Waziristan region of which Miranshah is the main town.

"A US drone fired two missiles on a militant compound, killing three rebels," a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

This was the second strike in less than 24 hours. At least three militants were killed Sunday in a drone attack on Dargamandi area in North Waziristan, also known as a strong bastion of Taliban and Al-Qaeda linked militants.

Another security official confirmed the strike and casualties but said the identities of those killed were not immediately known.

Boya is believed to be stronghold of the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group and both foreign and local militants. Bahadur, a local warlord, is allied with the Afghan Taliban fighting US-led troops across the border.

US drone attacks are deeply unpopular in Pakistan, but Washington sees them as a vital tool in the fight against militants in the lawless tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

The Pakistani government has repeatedly protested against drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty.

But privately officials have been reported as saying the attacks can be useful in removing militants from the country.