The drones fired several missiles that hit a house near an Islamic seminary in North Waziristan in the fourth such strike in the rugged tribal region in almost a week.

"Seven civilians and 14 militants died in the missile strike," an intelligence official said, hours after the strike. Women and children were among the dead, as well as the militants, including nine "foreigners," believed to be of Arab origin.

A security official said that more than 25 people had been wounded.

"The latest casualties include an important Arab militant identified as just Hamza and two other Arabs identified as Musa and Qasim," he said.

Some of the injured are in critical condition, according to hospital officials.