At least 23 people were killed in an aerial bombing in Pakistan’s border region of Tirah on Monday, according to police and security sources. Opposition lawmakers accused the Pakistan army of carrying out the night raid as part of a counter-terrorism operation, though the government and military have not issued an official statement.

“It was the security force’s aircraft that carried out the shelling. It’s their shelling that killed 23 people,” said Iqbal Afridi, an opposition MP representing Tirah. Another provincial legislator, Sohail Khan Afridi, also condemned the attack, calling it “an assault on unarmed civilians.”

Both MPs belong to the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, which governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

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Civilians killed as homes destroyed in Tirah

Local police confirmed that seven women and four children were among the civilians killed. Four houses were destroyed in the raid. “The jets targeted four houses, which were completely destroyed,” said a police officer in Tirah, speaking anonymously.

Around 2,000 people gathered in a nearby town later on Monday to protest against the deadly raid.

The mountainous tribal belt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has seen a surge in violence in recent months. Fighters from the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) have stepped up attacks on security forces, leading to fears of renewed large-scale military operations in civilian areas.

A security official in Peshawar confirmed the death toll and noted that the area hosts “dozens of TTP hideouts,” where militants often reside with their families.

Protests erupt as residents condemn military operations

The raid reignited fears of broader counter-terrorism offensives like the one launched in 2014, which displaced hundreds of thousands and killed thousands. Village councils in the region have repeatedly warned that further military action risks putting local populations in the crosshairs once again.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it was “deeply shocked” by reports of civilian casualties from aerial bombing and demanded a full inquiry.

“We demand that the authorities carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident and hold to account those responsible,” the commission said in a statement.

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