At least seven soldiers were killed and two others were injured when Taliban militants armed with machine guns and rockets ambushed a military convoy in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan on Friday.
Security forces claimed killing nine militants in retaliatory actions. Military officials said that dozens of armed militants ambushed a convoy of security forces at Khar Kamar in Dattakhel region, some 25 kilometres west of Miranshah. As a result of indiscriminate shooting, seven soldiers were killed and two others were injured. Officials said one military vehicle was destroyed in the attack. The injured troops have been airlifted to Bannu hospital, an official said.
Soon after the attack, security forces launched retaliatory action against the militants in the area. So far nine militants have been killed in the counter-offensive conducted with the help of artillery and gunship helicopters. Friday’s attack is the first ever against the security forces in Dattakhel area since the local militants entered into a truce agreement with the local administration in September 2006. Under the agreement, both sides had to remain peaceful towards each other.