Dozens Of Militants Killed in Pakistan’s Northwest

Pakistan's army says it has killed 40 militants and destroyed five of their hideouts and ammunition depots in air strikes in the country’s northwest.

The military said on September 17 that the air strikes took place north of Dattakhel in North Waziristan tribal district.

The army launched in June an offensive  in June aimed at clearing North Waziristan of the Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups, using air strikes, artillery, mortars, and ground troops.

It says it has killed more than 1,000 militants and lost some 100 soldiers in the operation, but the numbers cannot be independently verified.

On September 16, Pakistan's army announced that 31 militants were killed in air strikes and clashes on the ground in North Waziristan and the neighboring Khyber tribal region.

Three soldiers also died in the fighting.

Based on reporting by AFP and dpa