23 militants killed in north Waziristan clashes

Twenty-three militants were killed and fifteen others injured when Pakistan fighter jets bombed suspected militants' hideouts in North Waziristan Agency on the Afghan border on Tuesday after a wave of insurgent attacks against security forces, sending villagers fleeing from their homes, military sources and residents said, This hadn't been planned before, and Pakistan air force fighter jets were called to hit hideouts of the militants involved in attacks on security forces," said one military official. Military officials said fighter jets were targeting only militant positions around the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan.Following a wave of fighter jets strikes, the army later called in helicopter gunships to shell suspected hideouts, according to Pakistan's (Geo News). It was the first time the air force has resorted to aerial strikes in the region since it struck a ceasefire agreement with local Taliban chiefs in 2007. Residents of North Waziristan, a lawless mountainous region, said there were numerous civilian casualties but the army was not immediately available to comment on the operation. The air strikes took place as pressure grows on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take tougher action against the Taliban following the attacks on security forces.Sparking speculation that a military operation was imminent, Sharif cancelled his trip to the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos on Sunday following a Taliban attack on an army convoy in which 26 soldiers were killed.