PESHAWAR: At least 18 suspected militants were killed on Thursday during air strikes conducted by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets in the Dattakhel Tehsil of North Waziristan Agency.

Official sources told Dawn that at least 18 suspected militants were killed after jets targetted their positions in the restive agency's Madakhel area.

However, this information could not be independently verified as journalists have limited access to the war-torn region.

A day ago, military sources had said that 15 suspected militants, including two key commanders from the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were killed in precision airstrikes.

Today's strikes were part of the military operation which is currently being carried out by the army in the tribal areas of North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions, targeting local and foreign insurgents.

Pakistan's semi-autonomous areas have long been a hideout for militants of all stripes — including TTP, Al Qaeda and other foreign fighters.

Jets and artillery began targeting rebel strongholds in North Waziristan in mid-June and ground forces moved in to the region on June 30. The army says it has killed more than 1,100 militants and lost more than 100 soldiers since Zarb-i-Azb, the military operation in North Waziristan, began.