ISLAMABAD, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qaeda operatives Rashid Rauf and Abu Al-Asr Al Misri have been reportedly killed when suspected U.S. missiles struck a house early Saturday in North Wazirsistan, the northwestern Pakistani tribal district known as hideouts of Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, according to local press reports.

    But there is no official confirmation about the reports.

    Rashid Rauf, a fugitive British militant, was considered a key link to the al-Qaeda plot targeting transatlantic airliners in 2006. Rauf was on the run after escaping from a Pakistani jail.

    Three men were convicted in the U.K. in September 2008 of conspiracy to murder, although several others were acquitted.

    The private Geo TV reported that a U.S. spy plane fired two missiles early Saturday at the house of Khaliq Noor, killing five people including three foreigners and injuring six others. The strike destroyed a militant hideout in the village of Alikhel in North Waziristan.

    The attack came just two days after Pakistan lodged a strong protest with the U.S. ambassador over missile attacks on its territory.