ISLAMABAD - At least eight militants were killed, seven others injured and four militant hideouts destroyed when the Pakistani military launched an air strike over militant hides in the country's northwest tribal area of Khyber Agency, reported local TV on Thursday.

According to the local state-run TV channel PTV, the Pakistani army launched a strike over militant hideouts in the Bara area of Khyber Agency early on Thursday morning. Gunship helicopters and fighter jets were reportedly used in the operation.

But the report failed to mention at what exact time this operation was launched. Nor did it mention which group of militants the army was targeting at.

Located in the country's northwest mountainous region, Khyber is one of the seven tribal areas along the Pak-Afghan border. Different groups of militants including Pakistan Taliban, al-Qaida members and other banned armed outfits are believed hiding in this area, from which they often launch either cross-border attacks on the NATO troops in Afghanistan or attacks inside Pakistan.