Two suspected militants were killed during a search operation conducted by security forces in Wah in the Saddar area of Rawalpindi on Monday, police said.

Station House Officer (SHO) Yasir Rabbani said a contingent of Rangers, police and intelligence personnel were conducting a joint combing operation in the Pind Malhi area when suspected militants opened fire on the security personnel from inside a house.

The two suspects were killed in retaliatory fire by the security forces. Police and Rangers surrounded the house and a bomb disposal squad was called in before the house was searched thoroughly.

The suspects have been identified as Asmat and Muhammad Abbas, belonging to Charsadda and Peshawar respectively, SHO Rabbani said. The militants were residing in an under-construction house in the area.

During the search operation, a large quantity of weapons, hand grenades and suicide jackets were recovered from the house.

The SHO said mobile phones of both suspected militants have been recovered and are being used to acquire call records. Bodies of both suspects were shifted to a hospital.

Pakistan Army had launched operation Raddul Fasaad across the country on Feb 22 days after a terror attack near the Punjab Assembly in Lahore left at least 13 people dead and 85 others injured.

Hundreds of suspected terrorists have reportedly either been killed or arrested in raids carried out by security personnel since the start of the operation.