55 militants killed in air strikes in Northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR: At least 55 militants were killed today in aerial strikes carried out by Pakistani military in two different provinces of the country's restive northwest tribal region bordering Afghanisthan.

12 militants were killed when security forces clashed with them in Pary Gharin area of South Waziristan Agency, security sources said.

In a separate incident, at least 43 militants were killed in aerial strikes conducted in North waziristan.

28 militants were killed in Shawal area and 15 in Gharlamai after the military jets bombed their hideouts, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

Today's strikes came two days after the military claimed it had killed at least 65 militants in the air strikes in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency on Monday.

Pakistan military intensified Zarb-e-azab offensive launched in June last year in militants' stronghold of North Waziristan, after the deadly Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar in which 150 people, including 136 students, were killed.

The operation is in its final phase and will be concluded by the end of this year. Army claims that more than 1,600 militants have been killed in the operation.