Security forces carried out an extensive search and clearance operation across multiple areas of Bannu following an attack on a police check post in the Fateh Khel area, officials said, as operations continued to restore control and block terrorist movement routes.
According to details, coordinated search operations were conducted in Domel, Akbar Ali Khan Kalley, and Sada Khel Waziri areas, where security teams sealed off the surroundings from all sides before carrying out a full sweep of suspected terrorist hideouts.
Officials said the objective of the operation was to reassert control over the area, secure the Bannu link road, disrupt terrorist mobility, and eliminate potential threats following the recent attack. During the advance, suspected terrorists reportedly fled the area, avoiding direct engagement.
A vehicle previously snatched from civilians and allegedly used by terrorist elements was recovered during the operation, along with other materials. Two suspects believed to be involved in reconnaissance and facilitation activities were also detained on the spot.
In a broader search and combing phase, 146 houses were checked, resulting in the detention of 17 suspected individuals. Weapons recovered during the operation included pistols, ammunition, a shotgun, SMG magazines, and M4 magazines, according to security details.
Several terrorist hideouts in the area were also dismantled, and the region was declared cleared after completion of the operation.
Authorities said counterterrorism efforts would continue across the district to eliminate terrorist networks and their facilitators, as security operations in Bannu remain intensified following a series of recent attacks targeting law enforcement positions and civilian-linked routes.
