LANDI KOTAL, Jan 22: The death toll in Tirah clashes rose to five amid reports that nine persons were injured on Thursday in the fighting between a religious organisation and members of a tribe.

Sources said that armed volunteers of Qambarkhel tribe and activists of Ansaarul Islam targeted each other positions with heavy and light weapons. It was learnt that at least 15 houses were also torched in the area.

The Dray Plara, a sub-tribe of Qambarkhel, managed to repulse the attack of Ansaarul Islam on Wednesday but had to lose ground after a fresh offensive by the religious outfit on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.

Sources in Bara said that Ansaar rival faction Lashkar-i-Islam also dispatched its armed volunteers to the area to assist the QambarKhel against Ansarul Islam.

Sources said that Qambarkhel tribe had in past remained neutral during the nearly two years of fighting between Ansaarul Islam and Lashkar-i-Islam in Tirah valley.