LANDI KOTAL, Oct 19: At least three militant hideouts were destroyed when helicopter gunships shelled them in the far-off areas of Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency on Wednesday, officials said. They said that the aerial strikes were carried out in Mera Sar and Baz Garha areas of Qamarkhel. “There is no confirmation of militants' casualties in the air strikes,” said a press note issued by the security forces in Bara.

The security forces intensified operation against militants after nine soldiers were killed in an ambush in Akkakhel on Monday last.

There were also reports of armed clashes between volunteers of Ziauddin-Zamhakhel tribe and activists of banned militant organisation Lashkar-i-Islam in Sheen Qamar area of Tirah. However, no details about casualties could be obtained due to remoteness of the area.

Meanwhile, a government school for girls was partially damaged when militants tried to blow up its building by planting an improvised explosive device (IED).

The militants planted IED at the building of the government girls higher secondary school in Kalanga Akkakhel area of Bara tehsil. The water tank of the school was completely destroyed while one of the rooms was partially damaged in the explosion.No casualty was reported as the schools in Bara tehsil have been closed for the last two years owing to militancy and military operation.

Meanwhile, an oil tanker carrying fuel to Nato forces in Afghanistan was partially damaged when a time device fitted in it exploded near Ali Masjid on Wednesday.