LANDI KOTAL: At least 13 sus­pected militants, among them some foreigners, were killed and 11 injured on Tuesday in air strikes on their hideouts in Akkakhel area of Tirah.

Sources said jets carried out air strikes at Dars Jamaat and Khushab Darra localities of Akkakhel in Tirah valley, where activists of banned Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) had established their hideouts.

The air strikes were carried out on reports that militants involved in the suicide attack at Wagah border crossing were present in the area, they said, adding that some foreign terrorists were among the dead.

Security forces were making steady gains in Tirah where, according to recent reports, the LI had made local people hostage to shield the area from air strikes.

Attacks were carried out in Dars Jamaat and Khushab Darra areas

A statement issued by the security forces said that around 148 suspects had been killed in Khyber One operation, and 250 others, including their commanders, had surrendered since Oct 16.

The security forces gave 24 hours to residents of Sipah and Malikdin Khel to move to safe places though most Bara residents had already fled to Peshawar and adjoining areas.

Sipah is the birthplace of LI chief Mangal Bagh who wields considerable influence over local population.

JAMRUD OPERATION: Two suspects were killed and their three accomplices and two soldiers injured during clashes in Laashorha and Shangerh localities of Gundi, officials said.

The security personnel also got two abducted men freed during a search operation they carried out after the clashes.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2014