At least 12 militants were killed in fresh air strikes in North Waziristan tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan on Friday, said military.
The public relations wing of Pakistan military, Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), on Friday said an Army cobra gunship helicopters destroyed three "terrorists" hideouts in Qutab Khel area, on the outskirts of Miranshah.
"It was an integrated action by cobra gun ships, artillery and snipers. Twelve Terrorists including foreigners were killed in the strikes. Huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed," said ISPR.
A press release by ISPR said that another 24 suspects who were trying to flee in the garb of IDPs have been apprehended at various strangulation check posts in Mirali and Miranshah. ISPR confirmed that 200,000 persons have been evacuated from the area so far. An organized evacuation of IDPs continues from North Waziristan Agency towards FR Bannu, it added.
ISPR release further said, "400 Afghan families left North Waziristan Agency for Afghanistan through Ghulam Khan Border village yesterday. They were provided all required administrative assistance." a total of 20 booths, 10 each for male and females internally displaced peoples, are continuously functioning for expeditious registration and move out of Agency.
While the operation Zarb-i-Azb progresses as per plan, terrorists inside cordoned area are making desperate attempts to flee from area. Three locals who did not have any identity proof were apprehended while trying to flee from the cordon, ISPR added.
Pakistan military launched its long-awaited major operation Zarb-i-Azb in the tribal region a week after an attack on the airport in Karachi, deploying troops, tanks and jets to the area in the crackdown on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militants. So far, over 240 militants including foreigners have been reportedly killed in the air strikes carried by the military during the operation.