Posted on 10/07/2007 6:48:39 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan — At least 26 people including four civilians were killed on Sunday in clashes between militants and soldiers in Pakistan's restive tribal areas, the military and residents said.
Security forces launched an attack against militant bases and hide-outs in the restive North Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan, military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said.
At least 20 militants and two soldiers were killed in the fighting in a mountainous area south of the town of Mir Ali, Arshad said. Six soldiers and 15 militants were wounded.
"We got this information by intercepting the militants' own communications," the general said.
Local residents said four civilians also died, including three women.
The early morning operation was launched in retaliation for overnight attacks by extremists on two military convoys in the region that left two soldiers dead and another 30 wounded, Arshad said.
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