Islamabad, Dec 27 (IANS): At least 39 suspected militants were killed in airstrikes by military fighter jets in the Dattakhel area of North Waziristan Tribal Agency, media reported Saturday.

Official sources said the airstrikes carried out Friday targeted militant hideouts in Madakhel, Lataka and Basikel areas and destroyed at least six hideouts. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also destroyed, Dawn online reported.

The airstrikes targeted the hideouts of Uzbek militants and reportedly two key commanders were among the dead. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army's mouthpiece, also confirmed the report.

"In very effective and precise aerial strikes north of Dattakhel in North Waziristan this evening (Friday), 39 terrorists including top commanders were killed. A huge underground ammunition dump and tunnel system have been destroyed," the ISPR statement said.

On Friday, Dawn reported that at least 23 suspected militants were killed in airstrikes in North Waziristan Tribal Agency.

North Waziristan is among Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous regions governed by tribal laws and lies near the Afghan border.

The area has been isolated by deploying troops along its border with neighbouring agencies and Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) regions to block movement of terrorists in and out of the Agency.

The Taliban and other Al Qaeda-linked groups who stage attacks in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are known to have strongholds in the zone.