Islamabad, Dec 3 (IANS): At least 15 militants were killed in an airstrike launched by the Pakistani army in the northwestern tribal area of North Waziristan Wednesday, the military said.

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the mouthpiece of Pakistani army, said in a statement that air force jets pounded several hideouts of suspected militants in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, a restive tribal region on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The ISPR did not reveal the identities of the killed militants, but Xinhua citing Pakistani media reported that two high-value targets were killed in the airstrike.

Wednesday's airstrike was the second of its kind in the area in the last two days. Earlier Tuesday, at least 17 militants, including some foreigners, were killed in precise airstrikes in Datta Khel.

The airstrikes are part of operation "Zarb-e-Azb", launched by the Pakistani army in North Waziristan since June 15, in a bid to wipe out militancy in the area.

The ISPR said the operation has so far killed over 1,200 suspected militants.

Talking to the media earlier last month, military operation Commander Maj. Gen. Zafarullah Khan said the army had cleared 90 percent territory of North Waziristan district of the militants.