LANDI KOTAL: Thirteen suspected militants were killed in air strikes on their hideouts in Bara on Saturday and in apparent retaliatory gun attacks two soldiers lost their lives. 

Officials said that helicopter gunships and military planes targeted the banned Lashkar-i-Islam group’s bases in Nala-Malikdin Khel, Akkakhel and Sipah areas, leaving 13 suspected militants dead and eight injured.

Five hideouts were destroyed.

Independent sources said that five soldiers suffered injuries in gun-battles in different parts of Bara. Three were identified as Hawaldar Mushtaq, Naib Subedar Imran and Naik Usman. 

Meanwhile, two soldiers were shot dead in different incidents in Bara and Tirah.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd , 2014