In an absolutely shocking disaster, at least 30 civilians, including women and children have lost their lives in devastating airstrikes by the Pakistani Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The country carried out airstrikes on its own land, killing its own civilians, with an aim to curb counterterrorism in the area.
The strikes, which occurred around 2 am in the Tirah Valley’s Matre Dara village, involved the dropping of eight LS-6 bombs that flattened several houses and caused widespread destruction.
Local media reported that all the victims were civilians. Disturbing visuals from the site showed bodies, including those of children, lying amid the rubble. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, searching for survivors and bodies trapped under collapsed structures. Officials fear that the death toll could rise as many of the injured remain in critical condition.
This tragedy has reignited concerns about civilian safety in the restive province. Over the years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed multiple counter-terrorism operations, many of which have resulted in civilian casualties. In June this year, Amnesty International warned that recurrent drone strikes in the region reflected “an alarming disregard for civilian life.” Isabelle Lassee, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, highlighted that Pakistani authorities had failed to protect residents, noting a rising trend in drone and airstrike-related deaths since March.
According to police data, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 605 terror-related incidents between January and August this year, leading to the deaths of at least 138 civilians and 79 police personnel. August alone recorded 129 incidents, including the killing of six army and paramilitary Federal Constabulary members.
The province’s volatile security situation has worsened since Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine major terrorist hideouts across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In response, militant groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have reportedly shifted bases to remote areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa near the Afghan border. The region’s rugged mountainous terrain, coupled with its porous frontier, offers natural concealment and has long been exploited by armed groups — from the anti-Soviet Afghan war of the 1980s to the post-9/11 U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan.
As families mourn their dead, rights groups are once again calling for accountability and urgent measures to safeguard civilians in Pakistan’s conflict-hit northwest.
Helene Elliott is the senior reporter for News Raise. She covers Science news. She also has a keen interest in photojournalism. Helene holds a nomination for the prestigious Red Smith Award. She is married to author Dennis D’Agostino, a former publicist with the New York Mets.
