ISLAMABAD: At least 32 suspected terrorists were killed and three militant hideouts were destroyed by Army Aviation’s gunship helicopters in remote area of Bangidar in North Waziristan in a major encounter, Pakistani military claims on Saturday.

“During the fighting, 23 explosive laden vehicles and four ammunition dumps were also destroyed early in the morning,” said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

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

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army 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 (TTP) 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.