Peshawar: Pakistan helicopter gunships raided suspected militant hideouts near the Afghan border killing 20 insurgents and destroying their positions, a military official said on Monday.
"The operation was launched on Sunday and at least four militants' positions have been destroyed so far," the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.
There was no independent confirmation of the death toll.
The ground and air assault on militant bases near Ghiljo in the semi-autonomous tribal district of Orakzai comes after a suicide attack in the nearby town of Hangu killed more than 20 security personnel on Saturday.
Officials in the area had put the death toll at 12 late on Sunday. They said the air assault targeted hills where Taliban militants are hunkered down.
Residents said helicopter shelling continued early on Monday.
The target of the attack was an area controlled by a top Taliban commander, Hakimullah Mehsud, who claimed Saturday's suicide attack, they said.
Pakistan Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's deputy, Hakimullah, said the assault was carried out to avenge US missile strikes by drone aircraft.