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LANDI KOTAL: At least 12 suspected militants were killed and 15 others injured when their hideouts in Tirah valley were pounded by military planes on Monday.
According to security officials, the planes attacked the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s hideouts in Tor Darra, Sur Kas, Wachay Wanny, Dwa Thoe, Sra Wela and Sra Khawra.
They said that five hideouts, where fighters affiliated with the Abdul Wali Mohmand group were holed up, were destroyed in the air strikes early in the morning. All the dead and injured belonged to the group, the officials said.
Take a look: Mysterious numbers
The Taliban have been in control of these areas since 2011 when they ejected hundreds of Kukikhel families from their homes after fleeing from the semi-tribal region of Darra Adamkhel and parts of Orakzai Agency that were secured by the army after an operation. Official claims about the casualties in the air strikes could not be independently verified.
Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2015
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