25 militants killed in Tirah jet bombing

ISPR claims that the jets targeted the remote mountainous regions.

According to an ISPR statement, the attack on the hideouts was carried out in the early hours of the morning. PHOTO: ONLINE

BARA:
At least 25 suspected militants were killed when Pakistani jet fighters pounded their hideouts in remote Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on Tuesday.

According to an ISPR statement, the attack on the hideouts was carried out in the early hours of the morning, explaining that the jets targeted the remote mountainous regions. Nine of the hideouts were destroyed, it added.

The bombing came two days after gunmen seized the country’s busiest airport and killed 19 people in an all-night battle. Ten Taliban militants disguised as Airport Security Force (ASF) members and armed with rocket-propelled grenades stormed the Karachi airport on Sunday night. All 10 were killed after a five-hour operation, bringing the total death toll to 29.


The air force has periodically conducted brief raids to bomb Taliban positions in the tribal areas. On May 23, gunship helicopters and jet planes had bombed hideouts of suspected militants in North Waziristan, killing four and injuring three others. The strikes had targeted hideouts in Miranshah, Machis Camp and Mir Ali Bazaar areas of the tribal agency. Two days earlier, jet planes had bombed hideouts of suspected militants in North Waziristan, killing at least 60 people including insurgent commanders. An intelligence official in North Waziristan had said the strikes were carried out in Miramshah, the main town of North Waziristan, Mir Ali, Datta Khel and Ghulam Ali areas.

On April 24, jet fighters had bombed suspected militant hideouts in Bara tehsil and Jamrud areas of Khyber Agency, killing at least 35 suspected militants and injuring 14 others.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2014.
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