Pakistan 'raids militant bases'

From The BBC

Pakistan's army says it has killed a large number of al-Qaeda suspects and local tribal supporters in a major offensive in the Afghan border area.

Troops backed by artillery, fighter jets and helicopters launched an assault on bases in South Waziristan early on Friday.

[...]

The BBC's Zaffar Abbas says Friday's offensive appears to be one of the fiercest security operations in South Waziristan in recent months.

[...]

Gen Sultan said one target was alleged al-Qaeda financier, Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, but could not confirm his presence or whereabouts.

[...]

The army tried to flush out foreign militants in a major offensive to sweep up al-Qaeda suspects in March - that operation left more than 120 people dead.

It was deemed a failure and the army switched to softer tactics, trying to persuade tribes people to hand over foreigners for registration.

So far not a single militant has surrendered.

Gen Sultan said on Friday renegade tribesmen had dishonoured an earlier peace agreement.


Now there's a surprise!

UPDATE From The BBC

Seems things are a bit more serious this time.

And with the security forces using jets, helicopter gunships and heavy artillery to pound the militants' hideouts, and the suspected Islamic extremists responding with rockets and mortars, the mountainous region outside the town of Wana is likely to look like a "war zone" for many weeks, if not months.
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