Islamabad, Aug 21 (DPA):  A suspected US missile strike Friday killed at least 12 people in a restive north-western Pakistani tribal region along the Afghan border, an intelligence official said.

About a dozen people were also injured when two missiles were fired from a suspected US pilotless aircraft and hit a house in Dande Darpa Khel near Miran Shah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal district, the official said.

"The attack targeted a family of Afghan refugees, and 12 people have been confirmed dead," said the official, who asked not to be identified. "Among the dead are also women and children."

After the drone strike, Taliban militants raided three security posts in the area. The exchange of fire continued for hours, but details of the losses were not yet available.

North Waziristan is a hotbed of Al Qaeda and Taliban militants launching cross-border attacks on US-led international forces in Afghanistan.

The US has launched dozens of drone strikes in Pakistan's ungoverned tribal belt, including one Aug 5 in South Waziristan that reportedly killed Pakistan's Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Although the Taliban have denied the reports of Mehsud's death, US and Pakistan officials said they are almost certain that the warlord was killed.