Two soldiers have been martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists while responding to a clearance operation in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kirri Shamozai rural health centre (RHC), the military’s media wing said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the martyred soldiers are Naib Subedar Muhammad Farooq, 44, a Narowal district resident, and Sepoy Muhammad Javed Iqbal, 23, a Khanewal district resident.

The terrorists attacked the RHC on July 15/16 night and opened indiscriminate fire on the centre’s staff.

Five civilians including two lady health workers, two children, and a watchman martyred in the attack.

“Security forces in the vicinity were immediately mobilized for clearance operation in RHC and in ensuing fire exchange, own troops effectively engaged the terrorists as a result of which three terrorists were sent to hell,” the statement said.

Sanitisation of the area was being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. “The perpetrators of this heinous and cowardly act targeting innocent civilians, especially women and children, will be brought to justice,” it said.

Earlier in the day, the ISPR said that eight soldiers were martyred in the attack on the Bannu Cantonment on Monday. A total of 10 terrorists involved in the attack were killed.

Last week, a Pakistan Army captain and three soldiers were martyred in separate gun battles with terrorists in KP’s North and South Waziristan districts on Tuesday.

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“TTP terrorists are continuously committing acts of terrorism in Pakistan,” ISPR Director General Major General Ahmed Sharif told a press conference on May 7.