Islamabad - A suspected US missile strike on Friday killed at least 12 people, including women and children, in Pakistan's restive north-western tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

The attack targeting a house in Tolkhel village of the North Waziristan tribal district came as the Pakistani government and people were still fuming over previous US strikes in the area.

"Initial reports say at least a dozen people were killed when a single missile fired from a US drone hit the house just before dawn," a security official said on the condition of anonymity.

A local resident, Suleman, said six of the dead were women and children. At least 10 people were injured in the strike.

The missile demolished the house that belonged to a local Taliban loyalist identified by only his first name, Yousaf. (dpa)