3 troops, 30 militants killed in Tirah
PESHAWAR:
At least 23 troops are reportedly killed and many other injured in a fierce clash between Tliban and the security forces during as a result of a crucial military offensive was launched in the restive Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency. More than 30 militants are also told to have been killed in the operation.
Local and official sources told The Frontier Post that after the massive displacement from Tirah Valley, the security forces have launched a full fledge military offensive with SSG and local Amn Lashkar volunteers along side the security forces to root out the strong bases of banned out fit of TTP from the restive valley.
The TTP has captured almost the whole of the valley after they conducted fierce fighting with the Ansarul Islam (AI) during the last month.
Sources also confirmed that several SSG men also died in the clashes.
"The forces are backed by gunship and jet planes," official said on the condition of anonymity adding that the forces were quite near to seize the area completely.
Sources also told that the security forces are properly backed by the SSG and the local tribesmen as volunteers who are more familiar with the complicated ways of the hilly area of Tirah.
The FC media cell had confirmed on Friday that four soldiers were killed and over 14 militants had died in the clashes which have been continuing since then.
A dead body of an SSG commando and six injured SSG soldiers along with eight other solders were seen in Peshawar shifted to CMH on Sunday.
It is to be mentioned here that more than ten thousand families have been migrated from the restive valley in the aftermath of the clashes between TTP and AI. According to the reports pouring in from the area since than, scores of local tribesmen, women and children have also been killed in the fighting between the two banned outfits. Some of the experts are also of the opinion that Tirah Valley has becoming a strong hold for TTP and Militants of Darra Adam Khel who are shifting to the restive valley as they see it more safe than any other place in the KP and the adjacent tribal areas.
Meanwhile security forces have revoked the assault of militants over a post in Bara Shiekhan on Sunday. Sources told that a group of militants attacked a security post in Bara Shiekhan with automatic weapons and sniper guns but the security forces revoked the attack. No life loss was reported in the incident.
