Summary At least 23 suspected militants were killed in a military operation in North Waziristan.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Defense minister Khawaja Asif said Friday security personnel convoy was attacked by foreign militants on Thursday.
Commenting on the military operation, Khawaja Asif said it was the right of security personnel to retaliate after an attack on their convoy. He also said army personnel were martyred in the attack.
At least 23 suspected militants were killed and 12 others were wounded Thursday when Pakistani forces raided two hotels in the country’s troubled northwest, officials said.
The raids were conducted in Mir Ali area of restive North Waziristan tribal district, a day after a suicide attack on a military checkpoint which killed at least five soldiers and wounded 34 others.
Ansarul Mujahideen, a little-known militant group linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the suicide attack.
"Pakistani security forces raided two hotels in the area close to the site of the suicide bombing and intense gun battles left six suspected militants dead and 12 others wounded," a local security official told AFP.
Clashes erupted after the insurgents attacked a convoy of security forces which was returning after rescuing soldiers wounded in Wednesday s bombing, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The death toll could not be verified independently because of an ongoing search operation and curfew in the area.
Separately, shells fired by Pakistani security forces hit a house in Moski village and killed a woman and her two daughters, the local official said.
The violence in North Waziristan tribal district came a day after a suicide bombing at a military checkpoint killed five soldiers and wounded 34 others.
