PESHAWAR: At least 48 suspected militants were killed, seven hideouts, nine vehicles and several motorcycles were destroyed in fresh air strikes carried out by fighter jets and Cobra gunship helicopters in the Khyber and North Waziristan tribal regions, sources in the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Airstrikes were carried out in the Kokikhel area of Tirah Valley in Khyber and in the North Waziristan tribal area earlier during the day during which 18 suspected militants and seven suspected hideouts were destroyed.

Later, 30 more suspected militants were killed, nine vehicles and several motorcycles belonging to suspected militants were destroyed in fresh strikes carried out by Pakistan Army's Cobra gunship helicopters in North Waziristan tribal region

However, these claims could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to the restive tribal agency.

Read more here: 20 suspected militants killed in fresh N Waziristan airstrikes

The strikes come as military operation Zarb-i-Azb is under way in the North Waziristan tribal region. The operation was launched on June 15 following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan negotiators.

Nearly a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.