At least 5 militants were killed and several others including key commanders were arrested in Bara Tehsil of Khyber Agency on Tuesday. Forces targeted hideouts of militants in Ikka Khel area in which 5 militants were killed and several hideouts were destroyed. At least 18 militants were arrested in search operation. Large cache of arms were recovered from their possession. Government forces have carried out at least three small operations against members of Lashkar-e-Islam, an Islamist rebel organization with suspected links with Taliban and al-Qaeda, with limited success. The Lashkar-e-Islam is believed to have been involved in attacks on NATO supply trucks passing through the region. Nearly 75 per cent of oil and food supplies and military hardware for the NATO troops in Afghanistan pass through Khyber.
