At least 10 militants were killed in shelling of gunship helicopters in northwest Pakistan's Kurram tribal region on Tuesday, local TV channel reported.

Pakistani security forces with aerial assistance of gunship helicopters attacked the hideouts of militants in Talosi area of Kurram region, and 10 militants were killed during the operation, the private channel ARY News reported.

Military sources said that the troops nearly wiped out the militants from the region.

In its daily press release, the army said security forces continued search and clearance operations in South Waziristan tribal agency and conducted patrolling in their positions.

Militants fired rockets at troops near Makeen, the major militant base controlled by security forces, and the latter responded effectively, the statement said.

In Swat and Malakand area of North West Frontier Province, security forces carried out search operation and apprehended 12 suspects.

Pakistani army started operations in adjoining tribal areas near the Afghan border in late November to nab militants coming from South Waziristan due to forces offensive.

According to the army statistics, Pakistani army have killed more than 600 militants while 70 soldiers have lost their lives since they launched the ground assault on Oct. 17 in the tribal area, which Washington considers as the center of Taliban and al- Qaeda militants.