30, including children, killed as Pakistan Air Force bombs Khyber Valley village: Report

At least 30 people, mostly civilians, have reportedly been killed in northwest Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Tirah Valley on Monday after Pakistan military targeted Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts there, sources reported.

Police said that bomb-making material allegedly stored at a compound by TTP terrorists exploded causing the deaths, which included militants and civilians. The rescue operations are on and the death toll is expected to rise as several houses were damaged in the attack.

He also accused the militants of using civilians as human shields and said they had recently stored weapons in mosques in other districts.

Videos shared on social media platforms showed injured children lying on makeshift beds as locals around assessed the damages. Reports said casualties included women and children.

On Sunday, Pakistan army said that seven militants of TTP were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The operation was conducted on Saturday in Dera Ismail Khan district bordering South Waziristan after the presence of TTP militants was reported.

Earlier, on September 13-14, at least 31 TTP militants were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks, most claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, who are allied with the Afghan Taliban.

The TTP is a separate group but has been emboldened since the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Many TTP leaders and fighters are believed to have found sanctuary in Afghanistan.