Islamabad - Missiles believed to have been fired by US Predator drones hit Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's lawless region near Afghanistan on Thursday, killing at least five people, officials said.

The suspected US airstrikes targeted a militant training facility and a house near Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal district, a security official said on condition of anonymity.

"At least five people were killed at the camp while casualties at the other site were not known," the official said.

The training centre was being run by a militant commander identified as Malang Wazir. It was not clear whether he was hit in the attacks.

Local administrators confirmed "huge blasts," but said they had no details.

Taliban militants cordoned off the two sites and started searching the rubble for survivors.

South Waziristan is the main stronghold of Pakistan's top Taliban commander, Baitullah Mehsud, and the rugged territory is also used by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters to launch deadly attacks on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Thursday's airstrikes come as the Pakistani armed forces are readying for a comprehensive operation in South Waziristan to take out Mehsud's network.

Aerial raids were also carried out by Pakistani jets on Taliban facilities in the area last week after Mehsud's group claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings which killed more than a dozen people, including an outspoken Islamic scholar.

Mehsud has repeatedly announced he would take revenge for US drone strikes and Pakistan's ongoing offensive against Islamist insurgents in the north-western Swat valley. (dpa)