LANDI KOTAL: Thirty-five suspected militants and eight non-combatants of the same family were killed when Air Force planes shelled militant hideouts in different localities of Khyber Agency on Thursday.

Officials claimed that the militants killed in the attack were involved in the Islamabad Sabzi Mandi blast and a recent attack on policemen in Peshawar. Fourteen militants were injured and 11 hideouts said to be of the Tariq Afridi group were destroyed in Sra Vela, Ouche Wany, Dwa Thoe and Thor Darra areas of Tirah valley. 

These were the first air strikes since the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire on April 10. 

The planes also bombed suspected militant hideouts in Meeri Khel Lalma area of Akkakhel in Bara.

Sources alleged that one of the shells hit the house of a shepherd, Said Hakim, killing his two sons, five daughters and a daughter-in-law. They were identified as Aamil Khan, Kamil Khan (sons), Shenaz Bibi, Hayana Bibi, Arifa Bibi, Sitara Bibi, Nadia Bibi (daughters) and Naseeba (daughter-in-law).

The sources said that Said Hakim belonged to the Malikdin Khel tribe and had migrated to Meeri Khel Lalma from Orakzai Agency after its administration had some months ago asked the families from Bara to leave the area. 

Security forces also carried out a search in some localities of Akkakhel after the air strikes. They claimed to have rounded up at least 15 suspects who were later taken to an unspecified place for interrogation.