BANNU: A counterterrorism operation concluded successfully in Bannu district on Saturday morning in which eight miltants have been killed. A large number of ammunition has also been recovered.
The ooeration turned deadly on Friday night when militants opened fire on a joint CTD and police patrol near Hilal Chowk, Domail. Officials said the attackers were quickly cornered inside a compound as police and CTD teams called in army support.
Six soldiers from 8 LCB and 116 Brigade reached the area and launched a clearing operation. A heavy exchange of fire followed. Security officials later recovered six bodies of the militants from the compound. Identification is under way and officials said details will be shared once confirmed.
Bannu police said their route protection party also engaged militants trying to reinforce the group. One militant was killed and one suspected facilitator was detained. Two more suspects tried to escape the area; one was shot dead while the other was injured.
Intelligence teams monitored the operation through live drone feeds and continued to share updates with ground troops. One soldier was injured and shifted to CMH Bannu, where doctors declared his condition stable.
In an update issued early Friday the security forces said the operation had concluded and troops had returned to base. The bodies of the militants were handed over to the police. A faulty MRAP vehicle left at Sarai Naurang police station will be retrieved today.
Recovered items include three bandoliers, two pairs of PT shoes, 12 M-4 magazines, three SMG magazines and 44 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.
