13 militants killed in Pakistan airstrikes

Pakistani Air Force jets pounded militant hideouts in the restive North Waziristan tribal region today, killing 13 militants, as part of the ongoing military offensive to clear the are of local and foreign terrorists.
Aircraft targeted militant hideouts in the Shawal area of North Waziristan, destroying six terrorist positions, a security official said.
At least 13 militants were killed in the assualt, sources said.
The latest attacks were part of the ongoing 'Zarb-e-Azb' military operation in the tribal district to clear the area of local and foreign militants.
The security forces attacked the same Shawal area two days ago and killed 28 militants.

Later, some local people alleged that several civilians including women and children were killed in those strikes.
Minister for the frontier region Abdul Qadri Baloch in a press conference refuted the claims about civilian deaths.
More than 450 militants have been killed so far in the operation launched on June 15.