PESHAWAR: At least six suspected militants,including an alleged key commander, were killed in military airstrikes in Malikdin Khel area of Khyber tribal region's Tirah valley on Tuesday.

Military jets targeted suspected militant hideouts in various areas of the region killing six people and wounding several others. The identity of the commander killed in the strikes was being ascertained.

The details could not be verified by military sources.

Khyber is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and lies near the Afghan border.

The latest development came amidst operation 'Khyber-1' which was launched by the military last month on credible information about the presence of militants in parts of Sipah and Akkakhel areas, according to Shahab Ali Shah.

Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islam has had a strong presence in the areas being targeted in the operation.

Anticipating a military operation in their areas in Tirah valley, hundreds of Akkakhel families had left their homes in Dars Jumaat, Shaddaly, Darota and Kulla areas of Akkakhel in Tirah valley.

Khyber-1 operation was launched amidst 'Zarb-i-Azb', a full-fledged military operation being conducted by the Pakistani military against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in North Waziristan tribal region.

At least 1,200 suspected militants have been killed by the Pakistan Army in an anti-Taliban offensive during the past five months,