A suspected US drone has launched a missle strike near the Afghan border, reportedly killing at least three people.

The attack on Friday targeted the house of a suspected Taliban fighter near Mir Ali, the second major town in North Waziristan, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

"It hit a house and there are some casualties but we don't know how many," an official said.

Washington has increased its missile strikes against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan in recent months, despite protests in Pakistan.

Taliban fighters had warned last month that any more attacks would lead to reprisal across Pakistan.

There have been over 20 strikes in the last three months in the north and south of Waziristan tribal regions and the nearby areas reputed stronghold of the Taliban and al-Qaeda linked fighters.

The attacks reflect US impatience over fighters from Pakistan fuelling the Taliban in Afghanistan.