Military jets destroy four militant hideouts after receiving information from intelligence sources.
PESHAWAR: Pakistani fighter jets smashed militant hideouts in a northwestern tribal region early Thursday, killing at least 15 Taliban insurgents, officials said.
The jets targeted hideouts in the Upper Orakza areas converting four compounds into a rugged terrain near the Afghan border.
Two war planes were sent to the area early this morning after reports from local intelligence sources that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters were hiding in the hilly part of the region, officials said.
“The bombings targeted Khadizai, Samarbazar and Bermela areas and destroyed four hideouts,” Official said adding that at least 15 Taliban warriors were killed.
Local security officials confirmed the air strikes and the casualties.
Independent confirmation of the death rate was not instantly possible as the
lawless tribal region is no-go area for journalists.
Taliban have a strong hold over the most of Upper Orakzai and is the scene of frequent clashes between security forces and Taliban militants while government armed forces are in control of its lower reaches.
A similar air strike early this month left 20 militants dead, officials said.
Pakistan’s seven tribal districts near the Afghan border are under strongholds of Taliban and al Qaeda operatives.
Militants have killed more than 4,800 people across Pakistan since Pakistani armed forces raided an extremist mosque in Islamabad in July 2007.
