PESHAWAR / DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least 17 suspected militants were killed in air strikes in North Waziristan on Sunday and two security personnel lost their lives in an attack in South Waziristan.

Sources said that military planes pounded suspected militant hideouts at Gorbaz and Zoi in Shawal tehsil of North Waziristan near the Afghan border. Seventeen `militants’ were killed and several others injured. Four hideouts were destroyed.

Know more: US drone strike kills four suspected terrorists in Afghanistan

In South Waziristan, two security personnel were fetching water from a spring in Khaisoor area of Tiarza tehsil when Mehsud Taliban attacked them. Iqbal and Bukhtiar were both killed.

Meanwhile, clashes between security forces and suspected militants which erupted in Shawal area on Saturday night continued till Sunday noon.

Both sides claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on each other, but casualties could not be confirmed through independent sources.

Our correspondent in Khar adds: A security picket was attacked by militants in Damadola area of Bajaur tribal region’s Mamond tehsil on Saturday evening.

According to officials, no casualty was reported.

A group of militants attacked Adil Post, about 12km from Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur Agency, they said. Security personnel deployed at the post returned fire and forced the attackers to retreat.

After a search operation, it was announced that the attackers had fled the area.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2015

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