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Fighter jets bomb South Waziristan

* Two Taliban compounds, three madrassas, suspected training camp targeted
* Military blocking routes Taliban could use to flee

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: Fighter jets bombed Taliban hideouts in South Waziristan on Friday, targeting two compounds, three madrassas and a suspected training camp under the command of Baitullah Mehsud, reported the AFP news agency as – according to military sources – security forces clashed with followers of Baitullah in the region.

The military sources also said Friday’s operation “should be read as the formal launch of an offensive against Baitullah”.

“Fighter jets on Friday started bombing suspected Taliban hideouts,” an intelligence official in Wana was quoted as saying.

The AP news agency quoted intelligence officials as saying that several Taliban had been killed or wounded in the bombings. According to the agency, the bombings were launched in response to reports of Taliban’s presence in Zor Sorvakai, Madijan and Katkai areas, said the intelligence officials, adding that troop deployment in several areas was complete, and soldiers were moving towards strategic areas where “large numbers of Taliban were ... entrenched”. One of them said the military was blocking roads the Taliban could use to flee.

Meanwhile, the army clashed with Taliban while conducting an operation to clear the road linking Tanai and Sarwaki.

Other ground troops were moving into position around Baitullah’s strongholds, reported AP.

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