At least four Arab al-Qaeda militants have been killed in a drone attack in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, local officials say.
The officials told the BBC that a suspected US drone fired two missiles at a house owned by a local tribesman.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that some of those killed may have held German passports.
There have been 26 such strikes the area in the past month, killing several high-profile militants.
Al-Qaeda’s operations chief, is believed to have been one of those killed in recent drone strikes.
The house hit in the latest attack was located in a village 3km (1.86miles) from the main town of Mir Ali.
Officials say the Arabs had come to visit tribal leader Sher Mullah.
Locals told the BBC’s Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Karachi, that Sher Mullah had close links to Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the local Taliban chief.
The house was completely destroyed in the attack. In addition to those killed, several people were also injured.
Local tribesmen say the Arabs remain unidentified.
Over 150 people have died in drone attacks so far this year, including both militants and civilians.
Our correspondent says that the attacks have infuriated public opinion in Pakistan, which last week was further aggravated by border violations by Nato helicopters from Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s government has subsequently partially clamped down on the supply of goods and fuel from Pakistan to Nato troops based in Afghanistan.
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