World Bulletin / News Desk

At least 22 suspected Taliban-linked militants have been killed and more than 20 injured as the Pakistan army renewed airstrikes in the Khyber Agency tribal region on Friday, officials said. 

Pakistan army's media wing Inter Services Public Relations confirmed the bombings Friday.

A senior military official said, on condition of anonymity, that army jets targeted militant hideouts in the far-flung Tirah valley, which is considered a stronghold for the Taliban-linked Lashkar-e-Islam group.

Khyber Agency, one of seven semi-autonomous tribal regions in northwestern Pakistan, has been the focus for the army's anti-militant operation since October. 

There has been a similar operation in adjoining North Waziristan against the main Taliban network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, since June 2014.

The army claims to have killed more than 2,300 militants in ongoing operations while more than 100 soldiers have also been killed in clashes and landmine blasts during this period.