NORTH WAZIRISTAN - At least 33 militants were killed and three personnel of security forces sustained injuries in exchange of fire late Wednesday night and Thursday noon operation in North Waziristan Agency.
According to army officials, 10 militants, most of them Uzbeks, were killed when security forces raided their hideout in Mir Ali town of North Wazirastan Agency, after receiving intelligence report that they were busy in preparing vehicle borne IEDs.
Another encounter came when suspected militants tried to ambush a convoy of security forces returning from Khajuri checkpost area in Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan. Military officials said the convoy had gone to Khajuri to rescue soldiers who have been attacked by a suicide bomber a day ago, when they were offering prayer in a mosque at the post.
The security forces retaliated with full force and encircled the suspects. The gun-battle continued for hours and at least 23 suspected militants were killed while three men of the security forces also sustained injuries. Local intelligence officials have confirmed the killings.
The security forces also cordoned off the area and carried out a search operation following Wednesday’s attack on Khajuri post. A little known militant group Ansarul Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
Earlier, local security officials said six of the suspected militants had been killed during raids on two hotels. “Pakistani security forces raided two hotels in the area close to the site of the suicide bombing and intense gunbattles left six militants dead,” a local security official said. Separately, shells fired by Pakistani security forces hit a house in Moski village and killed a woman and her two daughters, the local official said. Military officials did not confirm the civilian deaths.