PESHAWAR: Eight militants were killed as jet fighters struck the militant hideouts in the Koshali Torikhel and Zakar Khel villages of the Mir Tehsil in North Waziristan Agency Saturday morning.
Official sources said militant bases in Koshali Torikhel and Zakar Khel were hit, with two bases destroyed. They added that eight militants were also killed in the Saturday morning blitz.
While tribesmen have already left the Mir Ali tehsil, those staying behind to resist are militants or their supporters who are being chased and eliminated, a source told Dawn com.
The militants are mostly foreign fighters and those who harbour them, with some having fled to the thick forests in Shawal valley extending to South Waziristan Agency.
There are still some key resistance points where the fleeing militants have left some fighters who are planting mines to stop the advancement of security forces.
The Utmankhel Dawar and Wazir tribal elders have again pledged to flush out foreign fighters and assured the government that they will not allow these militants again in their areas.
A three-day curfew relaxation in North Waziristan ended on Friday and it is unclear if the relaxation would continue on Saturday.
According to a press release issued by the military on Friday, terrorist hideouts in Qutab Khel on the outskirts of Miramshah were destroyed.
Cobra gunships, artillery and snipers took coordinated action and 12 terrorists, including foreigners, were killed. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed.
The ISPR said terrorists inside cordoned areas were making desperate attempts to flee. “Six attempts were foiled last night.”
Three locals who did not have any proof of identity were apprehended while trying to flee from the cordon.
The press release said that 24 suspects who were trying to flee in the garb of IDPs had been apprehended at various posts in Mirali and Miramshah.
