RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The military operation Zarb-e-Azb in the North Waziristan tribal region continues to achieve its objectives and is progressing well while after clearance of Miranshah, Boya, Degan from militants, Mirali town along with its neighboring villages, the second largest stronghold of militants, has been 70 per cent cleared by the security forces.
In a statement the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that two huge ammunition factories with ammunition stock were recovered as house to house search continues in the area.
The ISPR said that 30 barrels filled with explosives and chemicals used for making IEDs were also recovered from two large underground tunnels during clearance of Mirali.
It said that a massive IED, weighing 5,000 KGs was recovered from Boya and was diffused by the expert Counter IED team of army engineers. Later, when detonated it shook the entire agency and the explosion was heard as far as settled area.
A total of 570 militants have been killed while 34 security forces personnel have embraced shahadat since start of the military operation in the tribal region, the ISPR said.
The ISPR said that 98 militant hideouts, 30 IEDs making factories, three ammunition making factories, number of suicide bomber training centres were destroyed during the operation.
In addition, it said that huge cache of arms, communication equipment and propaganda literature have also been recovered.
