US drones after a brief lull struck again firing missiles at a Taliban hideout in Pakistan's restive NWFP killing five people, mostly militants, officials said.

Four persons were killed on the spot and seven others injured when the missiles fired by the drone hit an area near Miranshah in North Waziristan Agency late last night, they said.

One more person died this morning, officials were quoted as saying by TV news channels.

The drone fired three missiles at a house where Afghan nationals were staying and according to local officials the premises belonged to Afghan Taliban warlord Jalaluddin Haqqani.

It was not immediately known if Jalaluddin or his sons, who are prominent in the Taliban hierarchy, where present in the premises.

Haqqani served as a minister in the Taliban government which was ousted in late 2001 in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.

Drones were reported to be still on the prowl over the area where the strike occurred, TV channels said.

The fresh drone attack comes as Pakistani forces and armour is poised for an imminent military strike on Waziristan which is known to be a safe haven for over ten thousand Taliban, Al Qaeda and other foreign militants.