KHAR, Nov 4: Five militants were killed and several others wounded as jet fighters pounded their hideouts in Damadola area of Bajaur tribal region on Tuesday.

Sources said that jet fighters targeted suspected locations of Taliban in a hilly area of Damadola of Mamond tehsil during ‘Operation Sherdil’ to clear the region of militants.

The security forces on a tip off shelled the area and destroyed their locations. Military sources said that five militants were killed and three others sustained injured in the strike, adding that the death toll might rise.

Meanwhile, Lashkar of Barozai tribe in Ward Mamond also continued its drive against militants. The chief of Lashkar, Haji Rahmatullah, told journalists that more than 12 villages had been cleared of the militants during the past few weeks.

He said most of the militants were either killed or injured during the drive, adding that the remaining fled to mountainous areas along with Afghan border. He said that tribal forces would continue to chase the miscreant till their complete elimination from the tribal region. He said that movement of militants had confined to some of their hideouts after the Lashkar established checkposts being manned by volunteers.

Meanwhile, the elders of Salarzai tribe met in Pashat area of Salarzai tehsil to devise a strategy for major offensive being launched by tribal forces against the militants from Wednesday.