At least 14 suspected militants were killed and their sanctuaries destroyed as military jets bombed areas of North Waziristan, the military’s media wing stated on Saturday.According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 14 terrorists were killed in precise aerial strikes in the Shawal area of North Waziristan tribal region.The military planes reportedly pounded militant hideouts, during which infrastructure, including ammunition depots, managed by terrorists were destroyed.
The final phase of Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan is currently under way with the army having launched a ground offensive in Shawal last week. Shawal is one of the last strongholds of militants in the region.The terrorists, except for those who have fled to Afghanistan, are said to be holed up in Shawal. One of the reasons the fleeing militants chose Shawal as their refuge was a perception that Shawal was inaccessible.Shawal is also considered to be an Al Qaeda sanctuary. It has also been the focus of US drone attacks this year with multiple strikes hitting targets in the valley in which dozens of suspected militants were killed.