PESHAWAR: At least 15 militants were killed early on Friday in jet strikes in the Jamrud and Bara areas of northwestern Pakistan's Khyber tribal region, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Sources told Dawn that three militant hideouts were also destroyed in the strikes when jets bombed suspected militant positions in Sipah, Malakdinkhel and Chapri areas of Jamrud.

The information could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to the restive tribal region.

Khyber is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and lies near the Afghan border. The Taliban and other Al Qaeda-linked groups, who stage attacks in both countries, are known to have strongholds in the zone.

The latest strikes are part of the ongoing military operation named Zarb-i-Azb, initiated on June 15 against anti-state militants hiding in the North Waziristan Agency.

Also read: Airstrikes, gunfight kill 21 suspected militants in North Waziristan

The operation was launched after the Taliban and their ethnic Uzbek allies both claimed responsibility for the attack on Karachi airport and peace talks failed between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan negotiators.