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15 killed in drone strike, operation

* 30,000 people leave Khyber Agency amid relaxed curfew as military continues offensive against militants

PESHAWAR: At least 15 people were killed in security forces’ operations and a drone strike in Khyber and North Waziristan tribal agencies on Monday.

Security forces killed 10 militants in the remote Tirah valley on the seventh day of Operation Bia Daraghlam, security sources said.

Security officials said that 12 houses being used by militants had been destroyed in the Akakhel, Shalobar, Malikdin Khel and Sipah areas of Bara, while a militant stronghold and five hideouts were destroyed in Tirah valley.

Separately, a missile fired by a US drone hit a house and a madrassa, killing at least five people and wounding six others, security officials said.

“The strike targetted a madrassa and an adjoining house in Machikhel village in North Waziristan,” a security official told AFP.

“At least four people were killed and six others injured,” the official said.

Two other security officials in the area also confirmed that the missile was fired from a US drone. The victims could not be immediately identified.

A local administration official said that local tribesmen had cordoned off the destroyed house and madrassa and were searching for bodies.

Fleeing: Meanwhile, a large number of civilians have fled fresh military bombardment against militants in the agency.

“Thousands have fled the military operation in Khyber. Around 30,000 people have arrived in Peshawar since yesterday,” said Sahibzada Mohammad Anis, administrative chief in Peshawar.

Khyber local administration chief Tariq Hayat also told AFP that as many as 30,000 civilians had left when a curfew was relaxed on Sunday. staff report/afp

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