QUETTA: The security forces claimed on Sunday to have killed 10 suspected militants during a targeted operation in Balochistan's Sibi district.

The security personnel reportedly conducted an operation in Sangaan area of Sibi district and apprehended 12 suspected militants following an exchange of fire in which 10 suspects were killed.

An official informed DawnNews that security forces also demolished three sanctuaries being operated by militants in Sangaan.

"A key militant commander was also killed during the operation," he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman for Balochistan government, Anwar ul Haq Kakar, told DawnNews that a key commander of the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) Aslam Acho was reportedly killed by security forces in Sibi.

Kakar said “the dead commander was allegedly involved in the attack in Quaid’s residency in Ziarat”.

Moreover, the security forces also claimed to have recovered huge cache of weapons including rockets, improvised explosive devices and bombs from the possession of these suspected militants.

All the dead and apprehended militants belonged to an outlawed militant organisation operating in the area, the security official said.

The arrested suspects were shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

The suspected militants were reportedly involved in a series of attacks on security forces and blowing up of gas pipelines and other vital installations in the area, the security official said.