LANDI KOTAL: Twentyone suspected militants were killed and four of their hideouts destroyed in air strikes carried out in Tirah valley of Khyber tribal region on Friday.

Security officials said strikes were conducted in Rajgal, Kandu Ghaibi and Kheraaba areas after information was received that militants affiliated with banned groups were present there.

They said that the midday strikes left at least 21 suspected militants dead and seven others critically injured. Four of their hideouts were destroyed.

Banned Lashkar-i-Islam group spokesman Salahuddin Ayubi told correspondents that none of their activists was killed. He claimed that seven troops were killed in a landmine blast in Qambar Khel on Thursday.

Claims about the losses could not be independently verified as local media has no access to the region.