Islamabad, Nov 18 (IANS): At least six suspected militants, including an alleged key commander, were killed in military airstrikes carried out in Pakistan Tuesday.

Military jets targeted suspected militant hideouts in Malikdin Khel area of Khyber tribal region's Tirah valley, Dawn online reported.

The identity of the commander killed in the strikes is yet to be ascertained.

Khyber is one of Pakistan’s seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and lies near the Afghan border.

The latest development came amidst operation 'Khyber-1' which was launched by the military last month on credible information about the presence of militants in parts of Sipah and Akkakhel areas.

Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islam has had a strong presence in the areas being targeted in the operation.

Khyber-1 operation was launched amidst 'Zarb-i-Azb', a full-fledged military operation being conducted by the Pakistani military against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in North Waziristan tribal region.

At least 1,200 suspected militants have been killed by the Pakistan Army in an anti-Taliban offensive during the past five months.