PESHAWAR: At least 11 militants were killed and 12 others injured as jet fighters struck militant hideouts in Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Tuesday, Pakistan’s military claimed.

A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that jet fighters targetted and destroyed three militant bases in Kukikhel, Malikdin Khel, and Akakhel areas of Tirah Valley in the fresh airstrike.

The information, however, could not be verified independently as journalists’ access is restricted in the troubled area.

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Pakistan Army launched the operation ‘Khyber-1’ in October with airstrikes against Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) hideouts in areas under the Mangal Bagh-led group’s control in Tirah and Bara.

The latest operation was launched amidst Zarb-i-Azb, a full-fledged military operation being conducted by the Army against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Thousands of families have flocked to refugee camps in Bannu ever since the launch of operation in June.

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Khyber and North Waziristan are among Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous tribal districts near the Afghan border, rife with homegrown insurgents and foreign militants. These are also home to religious extremist organisations including Al Qaeda.