Pakistan air force attacks Taliban in Khyber region

Pakistani warplanes Sunday struck suspected Taliban positions in the Khyber tribal region near Afghanistan, security officials said. At least 18 suspected Taliban fighters were killed in the raids, which destroyed a bomb-making factor and a cache of weapons and explosives, Dawn News reported. Security officials told Dawn News the strikes occurred in the Tirah Valley area of Khyber and targeted Taliban and other militants who had been staging attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The operation came a few days after military helicopters struck militant hideouts in the Hangu district of Khyber. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave the green light to the air offensive last week, Dawn said.