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Islamist militants kill 10 police officers in northwest Pakistan, say police
Police said militants used quadcopters and heavy weapons, killing 10 officers and wounding more than two dozen in the retaliatory battle.
On Thursday, security forces continued a clearance operation in Swat's Matta tehsil, securing the strategic Rashid Sar area as one policeman was martyred and four militants killed during the engagement.
This operation follows a deadly militant assault on a police check post in Hangu district late Wednesday, where nine officers including Deputy Superintendent of Police Diyar Khan were martyred and 28 others sustained injuries.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed stated security forces killed 15 militants in a retaliatory operation after attackers targeted the post using heavy weapons and improvised explosive devices.
Authorities identified the militants as members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, designated as 'Fitna-al-Khawarij,' and vowed to continue the 'relentless Counter Terrorism campaign under vision Azm-e-Istehkam' until eradicated.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a 109pc increase in terrorist attacks since April, with recent security assessments indicating sharp regional deterioration that necessitates these ongoing high-intensity clearance operations.