PESHAWAR, Pakistan: At least 17 militants including Uzbeks and Afghans were killed in aerial strikes conducted by Pakistan’s security forces in Shawal district of North Waziristan agency on Friday.
The security officials said that the air strikes were carried out in the Wareka Mandi area of Shawal district where three hideouts of militants were targeted.
“The air force jets pounded the areas close to the Afghan border in thick forests and killed at least 17 militants. Three compounds and five vehicles were also destroyed in the action,” a security official in Miranshah told a foreign news agency.
The air strikes were part of the full-fledged military operation Zarb-e-Azb continuing against various banned militant outfits in the North Waziristan tribal region since June last year.
The strikes followed a deadly terror attack on a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community in Safoora Goth area of Karachi on Wednesday. The attack left at least 45 Ismailis killed, prompting a strong worldwide condemnation.
Police arrested two terrorists while planting bombs in Bannu
Separately, police arrested two terrorists while planting bombs to destroy a bridge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district on Friday morning.
The bombs were defused by the bomb disposal squad.
Meanwhile, explosive material planted at the complex of Ghazi Baba went off in Arang area of Bajaur agency early Friday morning. However no loss of life or property damage was reported.
