PESHAWAR: At least 20 militants were killed Wednesday as security forces repulsed a militant attack in Paindi Cheena in Tirah Valley, which is part of Landikotal Tehsil increasing the death toll in today’s strikes to 31 in tribal areas.

One peace committee member of Tauheedul Islam was, however, killed and two others injured in the attack.

The security forces fired mortar and artillery shells from Jarobi Camp, targeting militant hideouts in Akakhel area of Tirah, which is located in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency.

Earlier, at least 11 militants were killed and eight others injured in separate strikes and clashes with security forces in the morning and afternoon.

The security forces also destroyed several militant hideouts in parts of Tirrah valley in Drewand, Aarina, Wanra, and Zor Kaley.

The militants on Tuesday carried out two bomb attacks on the security forces and the peace committee members, killing at least four and injured five at the same place. Later in the afternoon, jet fighters struck the militant hideouts in Akakhel, killing six and injured several others.

The details, however, could not be verified as access for the media is restricted in the area.

Pakistan's military launched the operation ‘Khyber-1’ last month with air strikes against LI hideouts in areas under the Mangal Bagh-led group’s control in Tirah and Bara.

The latest operation was launched amidst Zarb-i-Azb, a full-fledged military operation being conducted by the army against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Khyber is among Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal districts near the Afghan border, rife with homegrown insurgents and foreign militants. These are also home to religious extremist organisations including Al Qaeda.