PESHAWAR: At least five suspected terrorists were killed on Monday during a clash between security forces and militants in Shawal area of North Waziristan, security sources said.

The sources further informed that three security personnel also sustained injuries during the clash. The wounded soldiers were rushed to the nearby hospital where they were given medical treatment.

However, this information could not be independently verified as media's access to the region is largely restricted.

Following the alleged clash, security forces launched a search operation in the area to clear it off militants.

Also read: Zarb-i-Azb: The 'War of Survival'

Military operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched by the Pakistan Army on June 15, 2014, following a brazen militant attack on Karachi's international airport and failure of peace talks between the government and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) negotiators.

Nearly a million people have fled the offensive in North Waziristan, which is aimed at wiping out longstanding militant strongholds in the area, which borders Afghanistan.

North Waziristan has been isolated by deploying troops along its border with neighboring agencies and Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (Fata) regions to block any move of terrorists in and out of the Agency.

More than 1,000 militants and 86 soldiers have been killed in the assault so far, according to the military.

The area is off-limits to journalists, making it impossible to verify the numbers.