Peshawar, Sep 13 (NVI) Pakistan Army today suffered a major hit, with its 12 personnel being killed and 4 injured in an ambush by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which eliminated 15 soldiers earlier in other multiple attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province over the last 2 days.
In today’s attack, which is the deadliest in South Waziristan since December last year, a military convoy was ambushed in Badar Valley.
In the assault, a vehicle was blown up, leaving at least 12 soldiers dead and 4 critically wounded.
TTP has claimed responsibility for the attack and said its fighters also seized weapons during the assault.
The last deadliest attack on the Pakistani military by TTP in South Waziristan was in December last year when 16 soldiers were killed and prompted Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan.
Prior to this attack, the TTP killed at least 15 soldiers and wounded several others in multiple attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of its special ‘Operation Al Khandaq’.
In South Waziristan district, TTP cadres clashed with a contingent of Pakistan Army which was trying to advance towards the militant hideouts in the Dana and Tora Gula areas of Azam Warsak yesterday, TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement today.
Three Army personnel were killed in the clash in Dana, he said.
While in the Tora Gula area, the Mujahideen attacked a convoy of tanks, resulting in the death of six personnel, he added.
A military Datsun included in the military convoy caught fire and was reduced to ashes, while a number of tanks were also partially destroyed, the spokesman said.
“The Pakistan Army then resorted to heavy shelling from helicopters, but all the Mujahideen were safe,” Khorasani said.
This morning, TTP attacked the Khand check post in Zarmilna district, in which 2 soldiers were killed and a security camera was destroyed, the spokesman said.
In Bajaur, a TTP sniper killed a soldier at a post in Damangi area of Loi Mamond, he said.
This morning, two soldiers were killed in a TTP sniper attack on the Gabri Sur Khawari post in Loi Mamond district, he added.
The Pakistan Army attempted to raid the TTP in Targao but in a prompt reaction, one vehicle was destroyed and casualties were caused, he said.
In Dera Ismail Khan, the TTP cadres ambushed a Pakistan Army convoy in Mangal village of Parwa, causing significant casualties and property damage, he said.
The TTP lost a fighter Zeeshan alias Ali Taqbalullah in the clash while chasing the fleeing military personnel, the spokesman said.
The TTP lost one more member Rafiulalh Sherani in Kawad area of Daraz Nanda in an ambush by the Pakistan Army, which triggered a fierce gunfight.
During the fierce gunbattle lasting about half an hour, the Army also suffered casualties whose number was not known.
In North Waziristan, TTP cadres attacked the soldiers in front of fort in Shewah Tehsil using snipers and other weapons, as a result of which one army personnel was killed and two were injured, Khorasani said. (NVI)
