PESHAWAR: At least 15 militants were killed and five injured today when security forces launched aerial strikes on militant hideouts in different parts of Khyber tribal agency's Tirah valley.
Security sources said that five militant dens were completely destroyed in the aerial bombing.
The targeted militants were said to be members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI).
Read more: Eight more militants killed in Tirah valley
Earlier this week, an attempted suicide attack on the Political Agent office in Khyber Agency's Jamrud area left four people – including two Khasadar Levies men, dead and 56 others injured.
Tirah Valley lies astride the Pak-Afghan border sandwiched between the famous Tora Bora Mountains and the plains of Bara which connect with the provincial capital, thus giving it a unique strategic position. Militant strongholds in Tirah Valley were targeted by Operation Khyber-II which concluded earlier in June.
However, officials have said questions remained whether the military gains in the plains of Bara and upper reaches of Tirah valley could be sustained over a long period in the absence of administrative and auxiliary support systems.
