Jet planes bomb hideouts in Tirah Valley killing 20 militants

PESHAWAR: Jet planes on Sunday bombed hideouts of insurgents in various areas of Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency killing 20 militants, Express News reported. According to security officials, weapons as well as a factory that made bombs were destroyed in the aerial bombing. “Terrorists hideouts were targeted through air strikes in Tirah valley in Khyber early morning on Sunday. IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) making factories and huge quantity of explosive material were destroyed,” said a senior security official in Islamabad. Another security official on the ground in Khyber told AFP that at least 18 militants were killed and two hideouts were destroyed. Local administration officials refused to comment, saying it was a matter for the military, and the tolls could not be independently verified as it is difficult for journalists to enter the area. On February 22, security forces had carried out shelling on militant hideouts in Thall sub-district of Hangu, killing at least nine insurgents. While on February 19, at least 30 suspected insurgents were killed and several others injured as military jets and gunships had bombed their hideouts in the North Waziristan and Khyber agencies.