Four militants killed in Tirah Valley as jets pound targets

A security official confirmed the operation, says four militant trenches were also destroyed.

BARA: Four militants were killed and two others were injured when Pakistani fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Thursday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a security forces official said that, around 4:30pm, two fighter jets dropped bombs on militant hideouts in the remote area of Koki Khel, killing the militants.

“Four militant trenches were also destroyed in the pounding,” the official claimed.

The official added that the area was occupied by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters.

Earlier on October 18, five militants were killed and several hideouts of Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), led by Mangal Bagh and TTP, were destroyed when gunship helicopters and jet fighters pounded the trenches in Akka Khel area of the valley.

A strategically important area, Tirah Valley borders Afghanistan and also connects to Bara, which then leads on to Peshawar. The valley has been under the influence of various militant factions, including Lashkar-e-Islam (LI), TTP, and Ansarul Islam, who constantly target each other over territorial disputes and sectarian differences, while the residents of the valley have limited contact with the outside world.