13 militants killed in Pakistan air raids

Islamabad, July 8 (IANS) At least 13 suspected militants were killed Tuesday after jet fighters attacked hideouts in Pakistan's tribal region of North Waziristan.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the air strikes were carried out in the Degan area, destroying seven hideouts, Dawn online reported.

The Pakistan army launched a comprehensive operation named Zarb-e-Azb against foreign and local militants hiding in sanctuaries in the North Waziristan tribal region a week after the terrorist attack on the country's busiest airport in Karachi June 8.

At least 30 people, including security personnel, civilians and 10 terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan were killed in the attack on Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.

So far more than 400 suspected militants, mostly foreigners, have been killed during the operation while at least 19 improvised explosive device (IED)-making factories have also been unearthed by security forces in parts of Miramshah.

Earlier Tuesday, FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) said that the number of internally displaced persons had almost reached 800,000.