ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Thursday 28 militants had been killed in South Waziristan in the previous 24 hours, taking their death toll to 422 since the offensive began.

Five soldiers including an officer were killed and two were wounded, the military said. Pakistani troops took complete control of the strategic town of Sararogha.

Maj. Gen. Atthar Abbas, director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), told Arab News “the forces have also moved into Ladha village and are clearing it.”

An ISPR statement said five security personnel including an officer were killed and two were injured in the fighting. On the Jandola-Sararogha axis, security forces are consolidating their positions on the peaks, according to ISPR.

On the Shakai-Kaniguram axis, security forces secured Ladha Fort and Shashak and cleared the area of Bangel Khel. During the operation, terrorists fired rockets at Mangora Sar and Ghundai Gar. On the Razmak-Makeen Axis, security forces conducted house-to-house search and a clearance operation is in progress in areas around Spin Qamar, Wucha Kauna Algad and Lugar Manza.

The militants are being squeezed out of their strongholds but have retaliated by stepping up bomb attacks on urban targets.

In North Waziristan, a US drone fired a missile at a house in a village about 18 km east of the region’s main town of Miranshah, killing four militants, Pakistani officials said.