PESHAWAR: Twenty-one suspected militants were killed and several others injured on Sunday when military planes pounded hideouts in North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations, two hideouts were destroyed in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan. The ISPR statement said 11 suspects were killed in the attack.

Military planes conducted precise strikes on militant positions in different areas of Dattakhel tehsil as Operation Zarb-i-Azb continued to flush out foreign and local militants from the volatile region, it said.

In Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency, 10 suspected militants were killed and several others suffered injuries in attacks on hideouts and sanctuaries.

According to the statement, the PAF’s planes targeted militant positions in Rajgal, Wacho Wano, Fatih Sar and Duwa Khula areas. Three hideouts were destroyed.

But casualties could not be verified from independent sources.

Meanwhile, information gathered from sources in Charchano Kandao in Tirah said US drones kept flying over border areas in the valley for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

Four militants affiliated with the little known Emarat-i-Islami militant group were killed in a drone attack on Afghan side of the border.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2014