Eleven Pakistani Army personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistani media website Dawn quoted the military stating that security forces launched an anti-militant operation late on Tuesday. The operation was based on intelligence inputs about the presence of militants linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistani military's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that 19 militants were killed in the exchange of fire due to what it called "effective engagement" by Pakistani troops. Leading the operation was 39-year-old Lieutenant Colonel Junaid Arif, who, along with his deputy, 33-year-old Major Tayyab Rahat, were killed. Nine other soldiers also lost their lives during the gunfight. The deceased soldiers were identified as Naib Subedar Azam Gul (38), Naik Adil Hussain (35), Naik Gul Ameer (34), Lance Naik Sher Khan (31), Lance Naik Talish Faraz (32), Lance Naik Irshad Hussain (32), Sepoy Tufail Khan (28), Sepoy Aqib Ali (23) and Sepoy Muhammad Zahid (24). Dawn quoted the military as saying that a clearing operation was underway in the area to eliminate any remaining militants. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid homage to the soldiers and extended condolences to their families.
