ISLAMABAD - At least seven people were killed when US pilotless aircraft launched missile strikes in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of South Waziristan on Friday, local Urdu media reported.

Express News said that the strike was launched at a vehicle close to a militants' hideout in Shonkrai Narai area of South Waziristan, a semi-autonomous tribal area along Pakistan- Afghanistan border.

The aircraft fired two missiles at the vehicle and kept on hovering over the area for some time, creating panic among the residents.

Identities of the killed people have not been revealed yet, but the outlawed outfit Sajna group has a heavy presence in the area.

Drone strike in South Waziristan came after a five-month halt as the US aircraft mostly hit targets in the neighboring North Waziristan area.

Friday's airstrike is the 13th of its kind in the tribal area of Pakistan since the beginning of this year. To date over 85 people have been killed in such attacks in the country.