15 militants, 4 security personnel killed in Pakistan gun-battle

Islamabad: The clash broke out when the security personnel were conducting an operation in Zao Kharmatang area in Khyber Agency.

The security forces engaged in a gun-battle with the terrorists in which 15 militants and four security personnel were killed, officials said.

The operation named Khyber-2 was launched yesterday to clear the area of terrorists and criminal hideouts. Troops have so far cleared Surgarh and Shergarh heights.

Two hideouts of terrorists were also destroyed in the operation. Several banned organizations, including the Taliban, are active in Khyber Agency and the army recently carried out an operation in the region to flush out militants who had captured strategic heights.