Pakistan army hits militant hideouts in north Waziristan

The Pakistan army reportedly attacked several suspected militant hideouts in MirAli area of the North Waziristan tribal region. The operation, which began late on Monday, was carried out in the villages of Hamzoni, Harmaz, Moski, Mohammad Khel village of Data Khel Tehsil, and Shera Tala area, press tv reported. Two dozen people were killed and 15 others were wounded in the strike. Pakistani military sources said fighter jets were only targeting militant hideouts and the victims were all militants. Taliban militants, however, claimed that civilians were among the dead. The militant group also put the death toll at 27. The overnight blitz made local residents to flee the volatile area for safer places. Reports also indicated that the wounded could not be transferred to hospitals for medical treatment, following a curfew imposed across the area. The Pakistani army has yet to comment on the strike, with one military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said had "not been planned before, and Pakistan Air Force jets were called to hit hideouts of the militants involved in attacks on security forces". The Pakistani military operation comes as a recent wave of deadly militant attacks across the country has killed several people, mostly Shiite Muslims. On Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed to use an all-out military action as a last resort to address the issue of extremism and militancy in the country. Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US on the so-called war on terror.