28 October,2014 09:09 AM IST | | IANS
At least 33 militants were killed in two separate air strikes launched in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan Monday, the military said
Islamabad: At least 33 militants were killed in two separate air strikes launched in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan Monday, the military said.
In a morning airstrike, 18 militants were killed when their hideouts were pounded in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan region, a restive tribal area on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
Later in the day, there was an air raid in the Ghalamai area in the region, killing 15 militants, Xinhua reported citing the statement.
The army pounded nine hideouts of suspected militants in both the strikes launched by gunship helicopters.
The identities of the killed militants have not been determined yet.
Monday's airstrikes are a continuation of operation Zarb-e-Azb launched by Pakistani army in North Waziristan region June 15.
North Waziristan was considered a stronghold of local and foreign militants who built their hideouts in the area from where they launched attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The ongoing operation has so far killed over 1,200 militants while hundreds of hideouts have been destroyed.
The operation also forced militants to flee to neighbouring tribal areas of the country.
