Operation Khyber-II: 27 militants killed in fresh Tirah fighting

Five solders, including an officer was killed as army claimed capturing key militant strongholds

Four days after nine suspected militants were killed in airstrikes in Khyber Agency, the military claimed it had made progress against militants in the area, killing 27 and capturing key strongholds over the past 24 hours.

According to a statement released by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces said that they had captured militant strongholds in Sandapal, Tordara, Kundwala and Mehrban Killay areas.

Read: Operation Khyber-II: Air raids kill nine militants in Tirah

During intense fighting, the army claimed 27 militants had been killed. The army too suffered casualties, losing five soldiers including an officer, Captain Ajmal.

On April 26, in an airstrike, fighter jets pounded militant hideouts in Bagh, Wochay Wona, Paati and Naaka areas of Tirah.

PHOTO ISPR

An arms and explosives depot was also destroyed in the blitz. The identities of the slain militants were not immediately known, but the officials claimed that a notorious commander was among the dead.

Read: Khyber-II: 23 militants killed in airstrikes

The targets of the latest air strikes were houses occupied by militants associated with the outlawed terrorist organisations of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-e-Islam.

The claims could not be verified independently because the region has been off-limits to the media.

Funeral prayers offered

Funeral prayer of officers and soldiers who embraced shahadat today were offered at garrison ground. It was attended by Governor KPK Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Corps Commander Lt Gen Hidayat ur Rehman, IG FC and other civil and military officers and jawans.