PESHAWAR: At least 35 suspected militants, an unspecified number of foreigners among them, were killed when military planes shelled their hideouts in North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the air strikes were conducted in Dattakhel tehsil.

The conflict zone is off-limits to journalists, so there is no way to independently verify the number and identity of those killed.

Know more: 31 militants killed in Tirah air strikes: ISPR

Officials said that over 1,200 suspected militants had been killed since the army launched Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan in June 2014.

The administration had lifted curfew from the area after 20 days on Friday.

AFP adds: “In precise aerial strikes 35 terrorists including some foreigners were killed today...” the ISPR statement said.

Arab and Central Asian militants sought sanctuary in tribal areas after fleeing the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.

Published in Dawn January 26th , 2015

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