Zarb-e-Azb: Mirali almost cleared off terrorists

Army recovers 30 barrels of explosives, chemicals used to make IEDs, from underground tunnels

Mirali, the second largest stronghold of terrorists in North Waziristan Agency, was 70 percent cleared by security forces on Sunday as the army launched offensive Operation Zarb-e-Azb in which 570 terrorists have been killed and 34 security forces personnel have been martyred, continues.

According to an ISPR statement, after Miranshah, Boya, Degan were cleared of terrorists, MiraliTown was also 70 percent cleared by the security forces.

According to the latest updates issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), besides 98 terrorists’ hideouts, 30 improvised explosive device – making factories, three ammunition factories and a number of suicide bomber training centers were destroyed during the operation. A huge cache of arms, communication equipment, “propaganda literature” have also been recovered.

House to house search continued as two huge ammunition factories were seized and ammunition stock recovered. Thirty barrels filled with explosives and chemicals used for making IEDs were also recovered from two large underground tunnels during the clearance of Mirali.

According to ISPR, an IED weighing 5,000 kilogrammes was recovered from Boya and was diffused by Counter IED Team of Army engineers.

Distribution of relief items for IDPs continues in Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and Tank. Around 152,000 ration packs (each weighing 110 kilogrammes) have been distributed so far whereas 53,000 special Eid packages have been distributed among the IDPs. The distribution of more packages is in progress.

According to an ISPR statement, 37,000 patients have been treated by the army at field medical hospitals, Bannu whereas 20,700 cattle have been provided veterinary treatment, 51,345 cattle and 68,872 poultry have been vaccinated and 44 tonnes of fodder have been distributed for livestock.