30 killed as Pakistan Air Force drops eight bombs during airstrikes on village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
At least 30 civilians, including women and children, were killed on Monday after the Pakistan Air Force reportedly dropped eight bombs on Matre Dara village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Tirah Valley. The LS-6 bombs were deployed from JF-17 fighter jets at around 2 a.m., according to reports.
The blasts caused extensive damage, destroying a large part of the Pashtun-majority village. Several people were also reported injured, though official confirmation of casualties is still awaited.
Local media reported that the airstrikes targeted hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in the area. All fatalities were civilians, highlighting the human toll of the military operation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recently seen multiple military actions against terrorists operating in the mountainous province bordering Afghanistan. On Sunday, the Pakistani army announced that seven TTP militants were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Dera Ismail Khan district.
Among those killed were three Afghan nationals and two suicide bombers, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army’s media wing, said in a statement.
Earlier this month, between September 13 and 14, at least 31 TTP militants were killed in two separate engagements across the province.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist activity in provinces bordering Afghanistan in recent weeks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week emphasised that Afghanistan must choose between siding with terrorists or supporting Pakistan.
Follow us
