33 militants perish in Pakistan airstrikes

KABUL border, a media report said on Tuesday.

Army jets pounded Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in the remote Tirah valley of Khyber and Orakzai regions, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Quoting unnamed security officials, the newspaper said ammunition and ration depots of the proscribe groups had been destroyed in Dawatoi, Bara Gat, Wocha Wona, and Nakai areas of the Khyber and the Mamozai village of Orakzai.

Assistant Political Agent Muhammad Rafiq said at least 10 militants were in the air raid that also destroyed four insurgent bases.

But TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Eshan acknowledged the loss of only two fighters, alleging most of the dead were civilians. The jets struck houses in the Kokikhel area on the border of Orakzai, he said, claiming women and children were among the victims.

PAN Monitor/mud