Tirah blitz: Fresh strikes leave 17 terrorists dead

Four militant hideouts, ammo dump destroyed

PESHAWAR: At least 17 suspected militants, including foreign fighters, were killed as jets pounded hideouts in Khyber Agency on Friday.

According to a brief statement from the military’s media wing, ISPR, the airstrikes were carried out in Rajgal area of Tirah Valley.

“Seventeen terrorists including some foreigners were killed in aerial strikes in the remote area of Rajgal,” the statement said.

It added that four militant hideouts were targeted. An ammunition dump was also destroyed.

Sources in the area said the jets had targeted militant hideouts in Rajgal, Kandu Gharbai and Tor Toot areas of the remote Tirah valley.

The strikes are part of the massive military operation in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. In June 2014, the army had launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the militant infested tribal belt with a view to evict terrorists.

The operation was expanded to the Khyber agency in October 2014 where the army has deployed drones, fighter jets, artillery, mortars and ground troops.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2015.