Air strikes kill 15 terrorists in Tirah Valley

The air strikes pounded militants’ hideouts in Tirah in which 15 terrorists were eliminated.

Sources said that some key commanders were also among the dead.

The military began its latest offensive in Khyber in October 2014, four months after a similar operation in the North Waziristan district which was triggered by a bloody Taliban attack on Karachi airport that sank faltering peace talks.

Pakistan has been battling Islamist groups in its semi-autonomous tribal belt since 2003, but stepped up its fight last June when it launched a major military offensive.

Pakistani troops have been engaged in a full-scale offensive against Taliban and other militants in NorthWaziristan and Khyber tribal districts along the Afghan border since last year.

The school massacre, Pakistan’s deadliest ever terror attack prompted the government to announce a tough crackdown on militant groups.