ISLAMABAD: At least 25 militants were killed in air strikes in the tribal regions near the Afghan border on Wednesday as part of a major offensive against the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other insurgents.

The strikes took place in the Sanzila area of South Waziristan and Tirah in Khyber, ISPR said in a statement.

“In precise aerial strikes, 25 terrorists were killed and seven hideouts were destroyed,” the statement added.

The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, so there is no way to independently verify the number and identity of those killed.

Tirah is part of Pakistan’s restive Khyber tribal region where a number of air strikes have been launched against militant hideouts in recent months.

The Pakistan Army has been targeting TTP and Lashkar-i-Islam militants in the region since October 2014.

The military launched Operation Zarb-i-Azb, a long-awaited push to clear insurgent bases from North Waziristan, last June after a bloody TTP attack on Karachi airport finally sank faltering peace talks.

Air strikes, artillery, mortars and ground troops have all been used to take back territory.

The semi-autonomous tribal areas on the Afghan border have for years been a hideout for militants of all stripes, including Al-Qaeda and the TTP as well as foreign fighters such as Uzbeks and Uighurs.