MIRAMSHAH, Jan 17: Five people, two women and two children among them, were killed and nine others injured when helicopter gunships shelled targets in Mirali area of North Waziristan on Thursday.

Sources said the helicopter gunships attacked targets in Hassamkhel, Haiderkhel, Inzar, Aipee and Khushal Toorikhel villages in Mirali tehsil.

Several houses were destroyed in the shelling. The injured were taken to a local hospital.

The houses which came under attack belonged to Dil Faraz and Shafiullah.

According to the sources, the shelling was in retaliation to a remote-controlled bomb attack on security personnel.

The panic-stricken tribesmen began vacating their houses and shifting to safe places after the attacks.