PESHAWAR - At least 33 militants were killed and nine of their hideouts destroyed in fresh air strikes carried out by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter jets and gunship helicopters in North Waziristan Agency on Monday as a part of ongoing full-scale military operation in the region.
According to ISPR, a media wing of the Pakistan Army, a total of 33 militants were killed, while nine of their hideouts were also destroyed, in two different aerial engagements in North Waziristan.
In the first action, in the morning, gunship helicopters targeted militant hideouts in Lataka, Sanzai, Danari and other adjoining areas ahead of tehsil Dattakhel. As a result of which, at least 18 militants were killed. Later, gunships pounded militant positions at Gharlamai area, in which another 15 militants were killed.
It has been learnt that two militants among the dead were stated to be Uzbek origin. The ISPR said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb against local and foreign militants was progressing successfully. Pakistan Army had launched an offensive against militants in North Waziristan near Pak-Afghan border on June 15 last.
The ISPR said that more than 1,200 militants had so far been killed while 86 soldiers embraced martyrdom during the ongoing offensive.
Pakistan Military launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb after failure of peace talks between militants and government and a brazen attack on Karachi International Airport in which at least 30 people, including 10 attackers were killed.
Agencies add: At least nine security personnel were injured in a roadside blast in Bajaur Agency on Monday, officials said.
They said security forces were patrolling in Naogai area of Bajaur Agency when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED) leaving nine of them personnel injured.
Reinforcement rushed to the spot and launched a search operation in the area.
The injured personnel were shifted to military hospital of the agency.
Earlier, last week at least two soldiers were killed in a similar incident in same area, the lawless tribal agency bordering Afghanistan.
Bajaur, a Federally Administered Tribal Area, is governed by tribal laws.
An extremist insurgency led by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) plagues the region and the area is known to be infested with militants, including those from Al Qaeda and other armed extremist organisations.