World Bulletin / News Desk

At least 40 suspected Taliban militants were killed in fresh army air strikes in different parts of North Waziristan on Wednesday, officials said.

The Pakistani army's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the army jets pounded militant hideouts in Dattakhel town which sits on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border on Wednesday morning killing at least 40 militants, including those of foreign origin.

“Today (Wednesday) in precise aerial strikes, five terrorists hideouts and ammunition dumps were destroyed killing 40 terrorists including foreigners in Nawae Killi and the Zaram Asar areas of Dattakhel in North Waziristan Agency,” an ISPR press release said.

The recent casualties have put the militants’ death toll to over 1100 since June 15 in the ongoing military onslaught whose aim is to eradicate the mother coalition of Pakistani Taliban, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The figures, however, cannot be independently verified as media have no access to the operation-hit areas. A total of 88 soldiers have been killed in operations against the TTP and around one million people from Waziristan have already taken refuge for their own safety in the neighboring Bannu district.