At least seven people were killed in a U.S. drone strike launched late Friday night in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of South Waziristan, reported local Urdu TV channel Express.

According to the report, the U.S. drones fired three missiles at a suspected militants' hideout in the Wana area of South Waziristan, one of the strongholds of militants along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border area.

Friday night's strike by U.S. drones is the 33rd of its kind in Pakistan since 2011. So far a total of 241 people, most of whom are believed to be militants, have reportedly been killed in such strikes since this year.