WANA/MIRAMSHAH, Sept 14: Fighting between army troops and militants in several parts of the South Waziristan region intensified on Tuesday and there are reports of massive casualties on both sides.

Jet planes and helicopter gunships carried out strikes in the Makin, Tauda China, Sher Koat and Shobikhel areas where, sources said, militants were offering resistance to security forces.

Large-scale evacuation of families has been reported from the areas, with people heading towards Razmak in the North Waziristan region. According to unofficial reports, about 500 families have left the area.

An official source said that paramilitary forces had entered the troubled Makin bazaar on Tuesday and flushed out militants. The report could not be confirmed from independent sources.

"Air strikes have caused huge destruction in residential areas in Makin," said Maulana Mohammad Tahir, claiming to be an eyewitness. Unofficial reports said that 12 soldiers were killed when a military truck was blown up by a remote-controlled device between Luddah and Makin bazaar. But, an army spokesman denied that any such incident had taken place.

According to another report, four troops were killed and 11 wounded when an army convoy was ambushed near Jandola. The convoy was moving towards the brigade headquarters in Zari Noor when it was attacked at about 7 pm.

Two soldiers were confirmed dead and seven others were wounded when militants fired rockets at the Wana Scouts camp and ambushed a military convoy in the Sarwekai area. Residents said that one paramilitary soldier was killed and three other were injured.

Sources said that one soldier was killed and a captain and two other soldiers were wounded and three vehicles were damaged in a hit-and-run attack on a military convoy. The troops called in air support and jet planes pounded suspected positions to dislodge the attackers. ISPR spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan confirmed the attack on the convoy in the Sarwekai area, but said that only two soldiers had suffered injuries.

The military convoy was on its way from Wana to Bannu district, he told Dawn by phone from Islamabad. "Military has definitely suffered casualties, but these are minimal," Maj-Gen Sultan said.

He said that an exchange of firing had taken place between troops and militants near Karwan Narai in the area. The sources said that the convoy was ambushed by supporters of tribal militant Noor Alam alias Abdullah Mahsud, who had been recently released from America's Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba.

Independent sources said that army and paramilitary forces had pounded Makin bazaar from four sides and forced the insurgents to vacate their positions. Reports said that security forces also targeted a seminary and the residence of a local cleric, Maulana Mohammad Shafiq, in Makin bazaar.

The seminary was believed to have been used as a shelter by foreign militants. Maj-Gen Sultan denied that the forces had attached the seminary, but said that the Maulana's fortress- like house had been fired upon.

He said that the house was used by militants for attacks on forces and civilians. In Makin bazaar, one soldier, Sajid, was killed, while another sepoy, Rajab, suffered injuries.

Reports of clashes have also been received from three other areas, Karwan Minza, Asman Minza and Della, largely inhabited by Mahsuds. Army officials said that insurgents had been wiped out from the entire South Waziristan region, except a seven-kilometre area, including Makin, where the military was carrying out the operation.

REUTER ADDS: At least four civilians were killed and 15 wounded in clashes between troops and militants, relatives said on Tuesday. Imran Khan Shabikhel told Reuters his relatives came under fire on Monday afternoon while trying to escape from Makin.