Nine militants killed as security forces strike hideouts in Hangu

HANGU: Security forces carried out shelling on militant hideouts in Thall sub-district of Hangu, killing at least nine insurgents on Saturday, Express News reported. “Gunship helicopters engaged the hideouts after confirmed reports of the terrorists’ presence,” a security official told AFP. On February 19, military sources had said that 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. Talking to The Express Tribune, a government official had said the air strikes carried out on Wednesday night were authorised by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.