23 suspected militants killed near Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19, (AP): Pakistan’s army says it has killed 23 suspected militants in northwestern tribal regions near the Afghan border.

In a statement on Friday, the military said its warplanes had carried out early morning strikes in Shawal valley in North Waziristan and in the Khyber tribal region. It says six “terrorists’ hideouts” were destroyed and 10 militants were wounded.

The military provided no further details about Friday’s strikes, and the information could not be independently confirmed as journalists are barred from entering tribal areas.

Pakistan has been waging a military offensive against al-Qaeda and other militants in North Waziristan and other tribal regions bordering Afghanistan since June 2014. The army has claimed “phenomenal successes” in the war against militants by killing around 3,500 insurgents since it launched the major operation.